Rotorua loses dedicated teacher

Much loved school teacher Gordon Apperley died on Friday after a long battle with illness. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua students have lost a much loved teacher and his family a generous and humble man after the recent death of Gordon Ross Apperley - fondly known as "Mr Apples".

Mr Apperley passed away on Friday after a long battle with illness. He was 51.

His wife Kim said he had taught at Aorangi Primary School and Kaitao Middle School and was dedicated to his students.

"Teaching was his life," she said. "He would be in hospital and just desperate to get out and back to the kids."

Mrs Apperley said he had had problems with his kidneys, which led to other health issues, for more than 20 years.

"He was really humble and a real fighter. Even when he was really sick he didn't give up, he just wanted to be out of there, he had a lot of things still to do."

She said he was a church-going man who attended Rotorua's Living Well Church and helped out in their youth programme.

"When he needed a car he didn't just sell his old van, he gave it to a family who really needed it, that's the sort of man he was," she said.

Kaitao Middle School principal Rory O'Rourke said the school would miss "Mr Apples" and he would close the school this afternoon so students and teachers can attend his funeral.

"He came to us 15 years ago and I was aware of his health issues. But, I could see there was a real passion for teaching and for the kids and that's why I hired him," Mr O'Rourke said.

"He gave up a lot of his time to coach water polo and soccer and he was always positive.

"The kids called him apples - which was a sign of respect for him ... he quite liked that."

His lasting legacy would be the reclaiming of a swamp which he turned into a community garden.