Remembering Sir Tim – a kind and genuine city leader
15 January 2026
A kind, genuine person who was always open to new ideas is how Awarua Synergy General Manager Sumaria Beaton‑Sikisini is remembering former Invercargill Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt.
Sir Tim, New Zealand’s longest‑serving mayor, died on 8 January, aged 78.
PHOTO: Shanan Kapene with Sir Tim Shadbolt, cheers with Deep South Cheese Roll!
Sumaria said one of her fondest memories from 2018 was when they were both in Wellington as part of the Southland Housing delegation to Parliament, meeting with Government Ministers to discuss housing issues. It turned out to be the longest working day of her entire career — a full day of meetings, advocacy, and navigating the complexities of Southland’s housing challenges alongside Sir Tim.
She took her then 6‑month‑old daughter, Classic Sikisini‑Beaton, on what was meant to be a simple day trip, but the day took a turn for the worse when their flight home was diverted to Dunedin.
Stuck high and dry in Dunedin after an already long day that began at 4am, Sir Tim offered Sumaria and Classic a ride home to Invercargill, saying, “Yes — mother and baby are the priority!” “I was planning to have a sleep in the back of the car, but we talked all the way back to Invercargill Airport — it was fascinating.” They finally arrived back in Bluff at 2am — a 22‑hour day from start to finish
PHOTO (above) – Classic Sikisini-Beaton with Housing Minister Hon Phil Twyford. Right Southland Housing delegation in Parliament
She says he was always very, very supportive of healthy homes, and had Awarua Synergy insulate his own home. He later recorded a video testimony saying how much he was enjoying his warmer, more comfortable home, and became the face of an insulation campaign that even featured a cheese‑roll making competition.
“That was a lot of fun. He was just really interested in people from all walks of life.”
“He was exactly what you would imagine him to be like — genuine and accessible,” Sumaria said.
PHOTO – Launch celebration of Clean Air Loans.
Sir Tim was also right in behind the push for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents to be able to access clean‑air loans to upgrade their insulation & heating.
Sumaria also worked alongside Sir Tim on the Southland Regional Development Strategy in 2016, and vividly remembers his joy and bemusement at being given a set of virtual‑reality goggles during a session on future technology.
“He was exactly what you would imagine him to be like — genuine and accessible,” Sumaria said.
Sumaria and the entire Awarua Synergy team wish to pass on their condolences to Sir Tim’s whānau and friends.
“To have a Mayor who inspired people, and was so willing to give anything a go, was exactly what we needed here. He was truly one of a kind,” she said.
