The New Zealand flag flies at half-mast above the Hamilton City Council Municipal Building this week to honour former council CEO and Freedom of the City Holder Bob Eyeington, who died last week.

Mr Eyeington died on Friday, aged 80.

Given the Freedom of the City in 1993, Mr Eyeington served as the council's chief executive from 1988 to 1992, during the mayoralties of Ross Jansen and Margaret Evans.

Mr Eyeington held a number of roles with the council before his appointment as CEO.

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Ms Evans, who attended a Community and Services committee meeting at council on Tuesday praised Mr Eyeington's contribution towards the city.

"Bob was the leader of the first strategic review that brought together Waipa, Waikato and Hamilton City council in 1972, which culminated in the boundary extensions, so essentially the shape of the city today," Ms Evans said.

"He also identified Peacockes as an area that should be developed sooner rather than later, certainly ahead of the growth to the north so there is a bit of a message in there."
"He was a wonderful wonderful public servant.

"I went to the funeral on Monday and it was really good to hear the messages passed on from the city council."

Current Hamilton deputy mayor Martin Gallagher was an elected councillor during Mr Eyeington's tenure as CEO and paid tribute to him.

"Bob was very hard-working, approachable and down to earth,"Mr Gallagher says.
"He had a strong sense of social justice and equality, and wanted to ensure 'the ordinary Hamiltonian' was always considered and treated fairly.

"Ultimately, Bob was crystal clear that he was a servant of all Hamiltonians."

Mr Eyeington's funeral service was on Monday, and was attended by an official representative of Hamilton City council.