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Former Manukau City Mayor Lloyd Elsmore died yesterday aged 94.
Sir Lloyd was the second mayor of Manukau City and held office from 1968 to 1983.
Current mayor Len Brown said yesterday that Sir Lloyd was a visionary at a critical period in the city's development. Pakuranga's biggest park is named after Sir Lloyd.
"He and his predecessor, Hugh Lambie, set the benchmark for leadership when Manukau was in its infancy.
"He was very much a uniting force for the city in its early days when it was a diverse mixture of town and country. The result of that leadership can still be seen today.
"Sir Lloyd left his mark by promoting unity, strategic urban planning, balanced economic growth and high-quality community facilities. That vision is still followed by the council today," Mr Brown said.
"Personally, he was a man of integrity and honesty. Politically, he was highly skilled and a formidable leader of the council. He knew how to get things done."
Mr Brown said Sir Lloyd was the driving force behind the development of Manukau City Centre and Pakuranga Shopping Centre.
"But he also had remarkable achievements in his personal life, and opened the first motel in New Zealand.
"I got to know him well over the past year and last saw him less than a month ago ... He was a real straight shooter and even at 94 was as sharp as a tack, strong-willed and had great memory and recall."
Former mayor Sir Barry Curtis last night said Sir Lloyd's death was "the sad passing of a wonderful person who did an enormous amount for the city".
"[His] were pioneering policies - everyone said he was mad ... but he helped create one of New Zealand's most progressive cities."
Sir Barry said he had a close relationship with Sir Lloyd during his own mayoralty and would often pick him up and take him to civic events.
"He was highly respected and admired. He was a staunch Rotarian and was a pleasure to work with."
Another of Sir Lloyd's legacies was the stability his mayoral terms gave the city in a time of great change.
He is survived by his son, Ron, and daughter, Isobel. His wife, Lady Marie, died many years ago.
