Hawke's Bay business leader and philanthropist Graeme Lowe, who worked a passage on a ship to get to New Zealand and then helped save the country's meat industry, died at his Havelock North home yesterday.
Aged 77, he was twice recognised in Queen's honours, with a QSM in 1989 and CNZM 14 years later, with many in the business fraternity wondering when he would be knighted.
He is perhaps more widely recognised as the name associated with the Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter Service - as either Lowe Walker or currently Lowe Corporation - and the Graeme Lowe Stand that opened at McLean Park in Napier three years ago.
His family announced in a statement that Mr Lowe passed away peacefully early yesterday afternoon, surrounded by his wife Jenny, son Andy, daughters Sarah and Kate, and other close family members.
Andy Lowe said: "We are deeply saddened by Dad's death, which comes after a 15-year battle with Parkinson's disease.
"He lived his life to the full. We have lost a great husband, father, mentor and friend. He has touched the lives of so many, from all walks of life."
He said his father would be remembered for his relentless energy and work ethic, leadership, innovation, passion and the strong values he instilled, which included "giving back to the communities we work and live in".
"To the very end Dad was inspirational in his strength and courage dealing with great pain and suffering," he said. "He will be greatly missed."
Born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Mr Lowe was educated in Yorkshire and served in the Royal Navy, before deciding to come to New Zealand, following his parents who had emigrated in 1955. He made the journey by working an epic voyage across the globe to Australia on the Summer Rose, a 21-metre sail-assisted fishing boat.
He had to find another passage to cross the Tasman, and began work in New Zealand for Birdseye Foods in Christchurch, learning some of the ropes in the frozens industry and, amid restructuring, transferring to Hastings where, with the help of a loan from his father-in-law, he bought a butchery.
Establishing Lowe Corporation in 1964, he and two partners developed Dawn Meat into a company owning beef and lamb plants throughout the North Island, but sold his share in 1986 when its board decided against his wishes to merge with Richmond and buy the shareholding Hawke's Bay Farmers Meat Co.
He then raised $30million to buy out Hawera company T H Walker, establishing the Lowe Walker brand which grew to run six meat plants.