Kawerau cop Tony Moller farewelled

Tony Moller fought a hard battle and died on his terms. Photo / Supplied

Tony Moller almost always had a twinkle in his eye.

He was a bit of a leg-puller, a bit of a crazy-idea man. He stood up for the underdog, professing he was one himself. He loved his wife and five daughters, the community of Kawerau, and the lifestyle block he lived on.

On Tuesday Moller took his last breath after fighting a good fight for 12 months. One of his daughters, Krystel Moller, said he died on his terms.

"A year ago Dad was told he had five days to live," Krystel said. "He fought hard, only weeks ago he told us he'd win the fight, he went out having not given up, but continuing to battle."

Although born in England, Tony lived the majority of his life in New Zealand and the majority of his New Zealand life in Kawerau.

He was a policeman for 29 years, 12 of those in Kawerau and he retired with the rank of sergeant. After his time as a cop, Tony took a job with the Kawerau District Council as a building inspector.

In 2013 he ran against current Kawerau mayor Malcolm Campbell for the mayoralty.

Campbell said he had great memories of Tony.

"Tony did a great job 'cleaning up the town' when he was a policeman," Campbell said.

"Not only was he a great policeman, he was really good at bringing the community together.

"During his time at council, a number of projects were bought in under time and under budget as a result of Tony's work.

"Now is a time of reflection and our thoughts, as a community, are with Tony's wife Lyn and their daughters."

Testament to Tony's community spirit was the community award he received earlier this year.

At a service on October 16 Tony was presented with a Kawerau Community Award and medal for voluntary work that had "made a significant contribution to the wellbeing of the Kawerau community".

Krystel said her dad was extremely proud of the award.

"I spent time with him during Labour Weekend and he kept asking me where his medal was."

At the lifestyle block he shared with his wife, Tony once put up a sign, facing the intersection of State Highways 30 and 34, announcing the block to be Mollywood. He was later told by Whakatāne District Council the sign had to be taken down but Tony left it where it was.

He also built his own Stonehenge on his land after obtaining polystyrene "rocks" and named it Mollyhenge.

"Dad was very proud of his name and his farm," Krystel said.

"He turned a place where you could once barely get up the driveway, into a place of beauty."

A celebration of Tony's life is being held today at the Kawerau Town Hall, Ranfurly Court, Kawerau at noon followed by a private cremation.