Porirua councillor Mike Duncan remembered for his generous spirit and eye for detail

2:47 pm today

Porirua councillor Mike Duncan died suddenly on Sunday.

Photo: Supplied / Porirua City Council

Porirua City Council staff are remembering councillor Mike Duncan as community focused, and as a generous spirit with a warm smile.

Duncan, who was elected to council in 2016, and was a former Dominion newspaper printer and designer, died suddenly on Sunday.

"As a councillor, Mike forged a strong reputation with council staff and his fellow elected members as someone who played with a straight bat, possessing a calm and competent manner, often with his tongue firmly in his cheek," a council spokesperson said.

"Due to his journalist, print-making and design background - Mike was a keen cruciverbalist, crafting his own crosswords - he had an eye for detail and was able to spot a misplaced comma or spelling mistake buried in council documents."

Along with being a member of Te Puna Kōrero (council's committee) and full council, this term Duncan was also on the Audit & Risk, Porirua District Licensing and Hutt Mana Charitable Trust Appointments committees, as well as the Dog Control Hearings Subcommittee.

"These past few years Mike was MC at the Porirua Anzac Day Civic Service, carrying out his duties with typical aplomb and humility. Mike was a strong advocate for New Zealand Sign Language, and pushed to get interpreters more often included in council events, including Anzac Day. Mike and his wife Christine had a very personal interest in championing the deaf community, with two of their grandchildren being deaf," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said he would be remembered by staff who interacted with him as open-minded, warm and friendly, someone who cared about representing his community around the council table.

Duncan's fellow councillors have also paid tribute.

In a post on social media, mayor Anita Baker said Duncan's death was sudden and "a shock to all".

"The council table will simply not be the same without Mike's insightful input, attention to detail, sense of humour and kind smile."

Fellow Onepoto ward councillor Geoff Hayward said he was struggling to process the loss.

"Today I've been thinking about all the little things that made me smile over the years," he wrote on Facebook.

"The ridiculous Christmas jumpers. His uncanny ability to find a spelling mistake buried deep in a council report. The dad jokes. The puns.

"The amazing garden that he and Christine worked on out the back of their place. The pride he had as he talked about his mokos."

Meanwhile, Onepoto ward councillor Kathleen Filo said she appreciated the opportunity to serve alongside Duncan on the council.

"I admired his preparation and attention to detail. He clearly read his papers thoroughly, had a keen eye for detail, and was often the first to pick up spelling and grammar mistakes, never afraid to point them out.

"I also appreciated the wit, humour, and life experience he brought to discussions around the council table. His observations and comments could often bring a smile to the room and, at times, have us all laughing."

Mana MP Barbara Edmonds also shared her sympathies.

She said on Facebook that before she knew Duncan as the councillor and community leader, she knew him as "Grandad Mike", an arduous supporter on the sidelines watching his grandchildren play rugby, netball or at their schools.

"He was so so proud of every one of his grandkids and his six kids, and would drop everything and anything for them," she said.

"My alofa to the love of his life, his wife Christine and all his family at this time as they come to terms with the sudden loss of their wonderful husband, dad and grandad. Ia manuia lau malaga Mike."

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