Obituary: Farmer spokesman was an achiever

Bill Guest.

Outspoken Northland farming personality and former Kaipara District councillor Bill Guest has passed away.

He died on Saturday at Te Kopuru where he resided.

The 70-year-old was the operations manager of Farmers of New Zealand after previously working for Federated Farmers. He also had a stint as a Kaipara District councillor from 2007-10.

Retired dairy farmer of Arapohue Neil Clements had known Mr Guest since 1990 when both worked at Federated Farmers, and described him as a "very intelligent man".

"When he decided to get something done, he got it done. He was a useful spokesman for farmers for pretty close to 30 years," he said.

Mr Clements said that while Mr Guest might not have been the most popular man, people listened when he spoke.

As a Kaipara District councillor, Mr Guest criticised the council's leadership, governance, and its poor financial management. He commented over the years about issues that affected Northland farmers, including low dairy milk payout and drought.

His funeral will be at 1pm on Friday at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Dargaville.