Bob Harvey (mayor)

Robert Harvey QSO (b. about 1941), always known simply as Bob Harvey, is mayor of Waitakere City, one of the four cities which make up the Auckland urban area in New Zealand.

Bob Harvey became mayor of Waitakere City upon election in October 1992 and is (as of 2006) in his fifth consecutive term, the first time this feat has been achieved in over a century.

Before formally entering politics, Harvey was a founder of one of the country's larger advertising agencies, MacHarman Ayer (formerly MacHarman Advertising), for whom he worked from 1962 to 1992. During this time he was heavily involved in election campaigns for the New Zealand Labour Party between 1969 and 1984. He is credited by many for the physical and political transformation of former New Zealand prime minister David Lange prior to the 1987 election. He also worked as election strategist to Auckland mayors Sir Dove-Myer Robinson, Dame Catherine Tizard, and Colin Kay. Harvey was also involved in the environmental campaign objecting to the building of a hydro-electric power station at Lake Manapouri in the late 1960s, the Save Manapouri Campaign. He also worked as a television producer and executive producer on several series during the late 1960s.

Prior to becoming mayor, Harvey served as Deputy Chairman of the New Zealand Film Commission from 1986 to 1992. From 1988 to 1990 he was chairman of the 1990 Commonwealth Games Arts and Culture Festival. He served as President of the New Zealand Labour Party from 1999 to 2000, and as a board member of the Tourist Hotel Corporation from 1995 to 1998. Harvey was chairman of the Health Sponsorship Council in 1993-94. He is currently again a board member of the New Zealand Film Commission, a post he has held since 2001, and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa a position he has held since 2006.

A keen surf life-saver (and winner of a bronze medal at the 1995 world championships), Harvey was associated with the establishment of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter service, which was a world pioneer in civilian helicopter rescue services. He is also involved in several other high-profile charitable and service organisations, including the New Zealand AIDS Foundation and Starship Children's Hospital.

Harvey is also a published author and historian, with several books to his name, starting with "Hey Dad" in 1983. He was also a regular contributor to Metro magazine from 1980 to 1992.

Bob Harvey and his wife Barbara, a practising midwife, have five adult children: Celia, Tessa, Claris, Rupert and Fraser. Harvey was awarded the United Nations Mayors for Peace Award in 1998, the New Zealand Medal for Community Service in 1990, and a Queen's Service Order for Services to the Community in 1991.

Books by Bob Harvey

*"Hey Dad" (1983)
*"Untamed Coast" (Montana Book Awards finalist 2000)
*"Rolling Thunder, The Spirit of Karekare" (2002 Montana Book Awards Environment Category winner)
*"Westies up front out there" (2003)

External links

* [http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/Mayor/resume.asp resume at Waitakere City Council website]