David Harrington (mayor)

David Francis Edward Harrington JP (10 March 1936 – 20 May 2009) was a New Zealand politician who served as Mayor of Invercargill from 1995 to 1998.

David Harrington
43rd Mayor of Invercargill
In office 1995–1998
Preceded by	Tim Shadbolt
Succeeded by	Tim Shadbolt
Personal details
Born	10 March 1936 Invercargill, New Zealand
Died	20 May 2009 (aged 73) Dunedin, New Zealand
Resting place	Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill
Spouse(s)	Patricia Catherine Harrington ​ ​ (m. 1958)​
Children	6

Early life

Harrington was born in Invercargill on 10 March 1936 to Richard and Millicent Harrington. He attended St Catherine's, St Theresa's, and Marist Brothers High School. He soon after began working for the Southland Building Society. In 1958 he married Patricia, and they went on to have six children.[1]

Political career

In 1983 Harrington was elected to the Invercargill Licensing Trust. He served as chairman from 1986 to 1995, and left the board in 1998.

After choosing not to run for mayor in the 1993 by-election, he was elected mayor in 1995, defeating the incumbent Tim Shadbolt handily. His mayoralty coincided with economic hard times which, combined with health problems, contributed to his loss to Shadbolt in the 1998 election. Much of the work he did for the city during his term did not manifest until after his defeat.[2][3]

Death

Harrington died in Dunedin on 20 May 2009 after a short illness and surgery.[4] He is buried in Invercargill's Eastern Cemetery alongside his wife who died in 2019.[5]

References

1. "Information on past Mayors of Invercargill City" (PDF). Invercargill City Council.
2. "A man who served for all the right reasons". 21 August 2009.
3. "Former Invercargill Mayoress Pat Harrington dies". 23 January 2019.
4. "Ex-mayor dies in Dunedin". 24 May 2009.
5. https://icc.govt.nz/cemetery-result/?id=84169