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Richard Worth once likened entering politics to a 1906 advertisement by Sir Ernest Shackleton for participants on an Antarctic expedition.
"Persons wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success," the ad read.
When Dr Worth
entered Parliament as Epsom's MP in 1999, many expected honour and recognition.
He was ambitious and had a strong academic and legal career behind him - as partner of Simpson Grierson since 1972 and executive chairman of the firm between 1986 and 1999. He completed his education with a PhD in Australia/New Zealand trade issues while in Parliament.
His interest in trade and foreign relations was reflected in posts as consul for Columbia from 1994 to 2000 and for Monaco from 2000 to 2008. He built links with Asian communities including learning Mandarin and involvement in the Hong Kong and Korean business associations in New Zealand.
This year he was appointed by the Queen as a knight in the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem. He was in the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserves for more than 20 years.
His critics liked to paint him as privileged - he was a King's Old Boy, frequented the Northern Club and noted he had taken a "big hit" in income and status to become an MP.
However, he was regarded as affable - former Labour MP John Tamihere described him as "a real old-school Tory, and a gentleman with it. That's why I've got time for him."
Visitors to his office would be offered ginseng tea, and his interests included Bollywood films, Korean classical music and the works of Sun Tzu, the author of The Art of War.
He also enjoyed climbing, including climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in 2005 with former Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard.
The eccentricity sometimes translated into his politics. There was a series of unwise decisions - including in 2002, when he went on a camel ride and visited the Pyramids in Egypt instead of attending an official commemoration for the Maori Battalion. In the same year, he quit as a director for Prada's America's Cup challenge after criticism about an MP supporting a competitor to Team NZ.
Earlier this year, he had to give up several business interests - including with the India Trade Group after Prime Minister John Key put him on a final warning. It followed a trip to India during which he gave a speech which gave rise to the perception of a conflict of interest.
Dr Worth made some unusual suggestions - including for Mt Eden prison to become a tourist attraction to raise money for charity and for Prince Edward to become Governor-General to ward off Labour's "strategy of republicanism by stealth".
In 2004, he offered his seat on a state-funded trip to Italy for the 80th anniversary of the battle of Monte Cassino to a veteran, after discovering some had been left out of the trip.
He was a strong defender of the separation of powers when he was the justice spokesperson.
Dr Worth was rewarded for backing Don Brash's leadership bid in 2003 by being promoted from 23 to 12 in the rankings.
However, in 2005 he lost the Epsom electorate to Act leader Rodney Hide and after John Key became leader in 2006, Dr Worth was put down to 24 with only minor portfolios.
Just before 5pm yesterday the list of ministerial posts was removed from Dr Worth's website and there was no mention of him ever having held them.
