Former Rotorua mayor dies

Rotorua's first district mayor, John Keaney, has died suddenly aged 77.
Mr Keaney, who held the role of mayor for 14 years from 1979 to 1993, died after attending a funeral in Matamata yesterday afternoon.
His wife Judy Keaney spoke briefly to The Daily Post last night describing her husband's death as unexpected and a shock.
One of his sons lives in Rotorua and the couple's other three children were on their way back from Auckland and Perth last night.
Rotorua Trust chairman Grahame Hall, also a former Rotorua mayor, said Mr Keaney's family had been a vital part of his work through the support they gave him.
Mr Hall had worked with Mr Keaney since the late 1960s and said he was one of many people who learned a lot from him.
"He has been a tremendous leader. John was a person who made a total commitment to the community and he achieved a huge amount during his time in the mayoralty. His wise counsel will be sorely missed."
The knowledge and skills he accumulated representing Rotorua at a local and national level were something Mr Hall aspired to when he followed Mr Keaney into the role of mayor.
Rotorua Deputy Mayor Trevor Maxwell today said: "He was a people Mayor. For me being a youngster [when I became a councillor], I learned a lot from a very wise councillor. My heart goes out to Judy his wife and family."
Speaking to The Daily Post in 2007, Mr Keaney described himself as "a person who likes challenges".
Achievements he was most proud of during his time as mayor included the amalgamation of the county and city councils in 1979, the building of the Aquatic Centre, beginning the upgrade of the central business district and Rotorua Lakefront and providing sewerage for the whole urban area of the city - from Ngongotaha to Rotorua Airport.
Mr Keaney was born in Paeroa in 1931 and started his working life as a school teacher and then principal before buying a dairy farm in the Ngakuru district.
He was elected to Rotorua County Council in 1971 and was chairman for three years before the amalgamation that formed the current Rotorua District Council.
Other community involvements included being a Justice of the Peace and serving with organisations such as the National Roads Board, the Dairy Company, Federated Farmers, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Rotary Club and Environment Bay of Plenty.
His service to the community was recognised in 1986 when he received the Queen's Service Order and again in 1993 when he became a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE). He was a keen sportsman involved in cricket and bowling and played representative rugby for the Bay of Plenty in the late 1950s.