One of the Far North's most successful and enduring local government politicians of recent years died in Kaitaia on Sunday.
Dennis Earle Bowman was admitted to hospital after being taken ill on Friday, and died there on Sunday morning, just weeks after celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary with wife Elaine. He was 82.
He began his local government career when he was elected to the Far North District Council in 1995, and was returned every election until 2010, when he lost his seat but was elected to Te Hiku Community Board, which he served for one term as chairman.
He retired from the board last year to contest a seat on the Northland Regional Council, which he won, and on the Northland District Health Board, which he did not.
A farmer, carrier and bus company operator for much of his life, Mr Bowman will be interred at Herekino cemetery tomorrow, after a funeral at Te Ahu in Kaitaia, starting at 11am.
