Property developer, evangelist dies at age 90

Hundreds of people paid tribute to Bill Subritzky on social media following his death last Wednesday.

Auckland property developer and evangelist Bill Subritzky has died aged 90.

Wilfred Allen "Bill" Subritzky, a property developer from the mid-1950s until the mid-1980s, was told earlier this month he had terminal cancer and only had four weeks to live.

"I'm 90 years of age and have had a wonderful life... the chariots are waiting to take me into heaven," Subritzky said in a message posted to his public Facebook page earlier this month.

Hundreds of people paid tribute to Subritzky on social media following his death last Wednesday.

"Sad for us but a celebration for heaven. He was a great man who left a great legacy...," Lynley Allan said on Facebook.

He is survived by four children, 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and will be farewelled at a funeral on January 6.

Subritzky, a senior partner in an Auckland law firm for 33 years, was the force behind Universal Homes, which built 14,000 houses during his time at the firm's helm.

Bill Subritzky. Photo / Facebook

He sold the business in 1985 to Chase Corporation after 25 years of operation and Subritzky then became known as an evangelist, writing 14 books on Christianity.

He still maintained property interests, including a $16 million, 8.92ha estate in Lynfield, which was bought by retirement giant Ryman Healthcare last year.