WESTERN BAY MAYOR DIES

Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Graeme Weld has died, aged 70.
Mr Weld, who had been absent on leave from district council duties for the past three weeks, died on Saturday at Tauranga Hospital.
Mr Weld's son, Richard Weld, said his father died of cancer, and that his family was with him when he passed away.
``He died peacefully,' Mr Weld said this morning.
``We were all there and got to say goodbye.'
Western Bay of Plenty District Council chief executive Glenn Snelgrove said Mr Weld's death was an immense shock to everyone at council.
``We are a very close team at Western Bay and are all feeling the significant loss of a man who led the council and the district for the past seven years,' Mr Snelgrove said.
``Our immediate thoughts are with Graeme's wife Susan, his four children and grandchildren.'
Mr Weld had been mayor since November 2001 and he had been an elected representative since the council was formed in 1989 when he was a Te Puke ward councillor.
He was appointed deputy mayor in his fourth term in 1998 and went on to successfully gain the mayoralty in 2001. He was elected unopposed for his third term as mayor in 2007.
Deputy Mayor Ross Paterson has been standing in for Mr Weld since October and will continue to be acting mayor until a decision is made for an election.
Mr Paterson said Mr Weld was a big man in stature but even greater in local government.
``His time and experience was his strength and mana.
``He was genuinely passionate about people of the Western Bay and their communities. He dedicated the latter years of his life to serving his communities. He was totally focused. ``His parting is certainly a sad moment for all _ he was a terrific guy.'
Mr Weld was a member of Local Government New Zealand's national executive holding the transport portfolio.
Former LGNZ president and now Commonwealth chairman Basil Morrison said he had fond memories of Mr Weld over the years.
``I was having a chuckle this morning thinking about him,' said Mr Morrison.
``When I was LGNZ president I asked the executive members for three options for the portfolios they would like. When Graeme's list came through his three options were transport, transport and transport. He spoke very strongly and had a very good working relationship with Helen Clark as Prime Minister and Annette King as Transport Minister.
He did an outstanding job. I'm going to miss him and his belly laugh.'
Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby said Mr Weld was passionate about working for the betterment of the Western Bay.
``He was a big man and he had a big heart for the community in which he served.'
Mr Crosby said Mr Weld enjoyed his role as mayor, and put in long hours. He particularly advocated for better roading for the region, and had a strong focus on the dairy sector. He said his thoughts were with Mr Weld's wife and family.
``It's a big loss to the Western Bay community.'
Tauranga city councillors paid their respects by holding a minute's silence at a meeting this morning.
Coromandel MP Sandra Goudie has also paid tribute and said she would be flying back from Wellington early to attend Thursday's funeral.
``Graeme was a terrific man and did some great things,' she said. ``I've known him for years and first knew him in the old New Zealand dairy group days.
``He was affectionately known as the walrus and we all loved him to bits.'
Mr Weld's funeral is due to take place on Thursday at St John the Baptist Anglican Church, Jocelyn St, Te Puke followed by a private, family burial service.
Mr Weld is survived by his wife of 47 years, Susan, four children and eight grandchildren.