Education and gay rights activist Robin Duff dies

Robin Duff was the first openly gay man in New Zealand to stand for Parliament. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

Education and gay rights activist Robin Duff has died this morning.

Mr Duff, the senior vice president of the Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA), died at Christchurch Hospital surrounded by his family and friends, the PPTA said in a statement.

Paying tribute to the long-time activist, PPTA president Angela Roberts said: "Robin has been a caring and vibrant part of the association for many years and will be sorely missed."

Mr Duff was a senior figure in the association for 10 years, serving as junior vice president from 2005 to 2007, president from 2007 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2013, the PPTA said.

He sat as senior vice president from 2009 to 2011 and 2013 until his death this morning.

Ms Roberts praised Mr Duff's "commitment to supporting secondary teachers and the work he had done to make schools a better place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) students".

In recent years Mr Duff had been working to support Canterbury teachers in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake.

"His strength and compassion in this area have been appreciated by many," Ms Roberts said.

Mr Duff was the first openly gay man in New Zealand to stand for Parliament, according to PrideNZ. He was also involved in the beginnings of the National Gay Rights Coalition.