Many of the environmental attributes important to most I spoke with are at risk in the longer term; it will be death by a thousand cuts. It will not be the intent of all involved; the legislation and district plan will be adhered to; the aspirations of individual families and developers will be accommodated in a fair and just way – but the end result will not satisfy the majority!  

This is why a strong, self-reinforcing vision of how the community wants the Waitakere Ranges to be in the future is critical. The key attributes that are important must be identified and measures to maintain them, developed.” 

Thanks in no small part to John’s leadership Team West had a great campaign and had Bob Harvey elected as mayor, Sandra Coney and Paul Walbran as Regional Councillor’s, a significant majority on Waitākere City Council and an almost shut out on the community boards.

Then the Waitākere Ranges Protection project started. This involved implementing the desire held by Jonathan Hunt since 1975 to get legislative protection for the Ranges. It was to address the warning given by Morgan Williams of what was required to provide meaningful protection for the Ranges. The political stars were aligned, we had a Council elected on a platform of providing meaningful protection for the Ranges and we had local MPs and a Government that were keen to achieve this.

Things became complex and progress was slow. There were differences of opinion on Waitākere Council between those who thought that the process of drafting and executing the law had to be careful and had to bring locals along with them. There was a contrary view, held by John as well as me that we had the mandate and should just get on with things.

John became frustrated with the pace of progress and resigned as Chair of Team West and in 2004 stood as an independent for Council. I delivered pamphlets for him. I thought he would have been an exceptional Councillor, bright, principled, determined, understanding, networked.

He missed out, but not by much. My comrade Denise Yates and I suffered the same fate. John responded by getting us both seconded onto the executive of the Waitākere Ranges Protection Society.

The next three years were cathartic as John led us through a campaign to persuade waivering councillors to support the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Bill, a local bill submitted from Council to Parliament.

The campaign worked, Waitākere City endorsed the bill and it successfully made its way through Parliament. The decades of insistance by locals that the Waitākere Ranges should be protected finally received Parliamentary approval and made its way into law.

We had a great celebration. I had the opportunity to present John with a framed copy of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act. John had this wonderful response about “in case of emergency break glass”.

That comment has stuck with me and every time an issue about the Ranges appears a read of the Act provides support and guidance.

Since that time I have had regular contact with John. Emails from him tended to appear at 7 am, clearly the first thing he did every day was address issues concerning the protection of the Waitākere Ranges.

And as the issues appeared he was at the forefront of advocacy for action and change. He championed action about Kauri Dieback. Nothing less than a science based principled protective response to the crisis was sufficient.

His greatest strength was his ability to nurture and grow a diverse network of talented people and get them to contribute to the protection of the Waitākere Ranges. I was one of hundreds he persuaded to get involved. After meeting him and talking to him it was clearly the right thing to do. Protecting the Ranges is such an important job. John was always very persuasive.

A funny thing has happened about the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act. 13 years ago it was very contentious. In 2008 National opposed it at every step as did United Future and New Zealand First. Nowadays the vast majority of westies cherish and support living in the Heritage Area. It has become a talisman for how exceptional our area is.

John’s love for the Waitākere Ranges was complete.

He will be missed. The Waitākere Ranges are in much better shape because of him.

I was aware that John was not well and had been trying to get a chance to publicly acknowledge him. It seemed only right. Ecomatters awarded him the Kahikatea Award late last year which is the supreme award for Westies who contribute to the environment. Regretfully John could not be there. Nor did he appear at the Local Board celebration just before Christmas. On behalf of the Board I had intended to give him a gift of a book and to publicly acknowledge him. It was the least that we could do.

I have a magnificent Kauri on my property that stands on the crest of a ridge. It provides tranquility, artistic inspiration and a sancturay for local flora and fauna. It sequesters carbon and holds the ridge intact. It provides us with fresh air and clenses the water that flows through the valley. It strengthens Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa. I think I will call it John Edgar.