He served as a district councillor for two terms from 1989, as chairman of the finance committee. Under his watch council debt dropped from $41 million to $16m.
"At the same time we did more [road] sealing than before and got the Town Basin going and we held the rates," he said.
Now, ballooning debt and "impossible" compliance rules, partially the fault of central Government, are marring the town's growth, Mr Yovich said.
A far-reaching CBD landlord and property developer, his lesser-known interests include Whangarei Quarry Gardens, which he helped establish in the early 1990s.
His flagship community project in recent years has been Whangarei's Jim Carney Cancer Treatment Centre, which opened at the end of 2014 following a $3m fundraising effort. Mr Yovich gave a sizeable chunk of this.
Mrs Yovich had leukaemia about eight years ago.
"They found out quickly and early and now she's good," he said. His brother, Frank, died of cancer in 1996.
"It was very hard for people in the north having to go down to Auckland [for treatment] all the time," Mr Yovich said.
His "for fun" activity is indoor bowls, taking up various committee positions and establishing an annual tournament between the upper North Island's Dalmatian clubs.
He has been a member Whangarei Dalmatian Club for many years and served terms as secretary and treasurer. His pride in the culture is evident when he starts whipping out books on the history of Yugoslavs in New Zealand.
Business achievements include the 1987 public listing of Michael Hill Jeweller where he was a director for 14 years and several years later he helped float Marsden Maritime Holdings (then Northland Port Corporation).
He serves as a director for numerous companies including Busck Concrete and his namesake on Rathbone St specialising in wealth management and accountancy.
Next on his community to-do list is a revamp of Kiwi North Museum. He also wants to see Whangarei make the most of what it already has.
"People hit the Tarewa [Information Centre] they get their information then carry on north. It's a matter of promoting local activities," he said.
"It's my hometown, it's a lovely place and it's a matter of keeping it that way."
