Source: Radio New Zealand
Former Dunedin mayor Jules Radich. RNZ / REECE BAKER
Former Dunedin mayor Jules Radich has been remembered as a passionate leader and a gentleman who always put his community first with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.
Radich died earlier this month while starting his second term as a councillor after an unsuccessful bid to keep the top seat in last year’s election.
The Dunedin City Council held a special meeting to pay tribute to him on Monday.
Dunedin mayor Sophie Barker admitted it had been a tough few weeks to come to grips with the significant gap Radich left behind.
They joined the council at the same time in 2019 and shared good times and bad.
“Jules had the city in his heart and people loved him for it,” Barker said.
He strove for balance and consensus from the start with good humour, she said.
“He knew I loved my op shops finds or Mum’s hand-me-downs, and was nearly always spot on with what designer I was channelling on a day. It was almost a pop quiz for him.”
Barker treasured their fight to stop the Dunedin hospital from being downgraded.
“Wearing those t-shirts at every opportunity, even getting very told off for wearing them in front of the government at an LGNZ [Local Government New Zealand] meeting. But determinately sticking to his guns over our campaign,” she said.
Radich with the FIFA Women’s World Cup mascot Tazuni in 2022. RNZ / Tess Brunton
Cherry Lucas, who Radich’s deputy and reclaimed the role this term, said he liked to solve the issues of the city himself and she was honoured to serve alongside him.
“Jules, you taught me so much. I valued your wisdom, your positivity and your intellect,” she said.
Council chief executive Sandy Graham said his death had been felt at all levels of council.
She fondly remembered discussing his many ideas and passions, including how to tackle erosion at St Clair beach.
“I spent a lot of time with him and a great many hours exploring topics as wide ranging as Japanese art, wine, groynes, pipe design, how to win at underwater hockey, travel hacks and groynes again,” she said.
Councillor Andrew Simms described getting an unusual call from a friend of Radich, saying they were meeting on Wednesday to discuss an art installation idea.
“The art installation that he’s proposing is a set of telegraph poles leading into the sea somewhere between Middle Beach and St Clair, and I think that’s got merit ’cause … wedding photos in Dunedin have not been the same since those poles disappeared,” Simms said.
He invited other councillors to join their determined quest.
Radich after his election as mayor in 2022. RNZ / Tim Brown
Former councillor Andrew Whiley said his friend made time for everyone.
“Walking down the street could take you some time. I thought I knew a lot of people in Dunedin but Jules and I together, it took us longer to get to coffee than to enjoy it,” he said.
Former councillor Bill Acklin said he cared deeply for the community and was not afraid of putting in the mahi during the 2024 floods.
“Jules was hands on with contractors, community members, all hours of the day and night,” he said.
He wanted to understand what more could be done to protect the vulnerable areas of the city, Acklin said.
Radich recently secured funding for pipes and pumps to help protect South Dunedin in the long term plan.
Flooding in South Dunedin in 2024. RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon
Councillor Mandy Mayhem highlighted how he advocated for the city’s homeless.
“I would see Jules often speak to people in the street, to buy them food and simply have the time of day for everyone,” she said.
But she also spoke about his sense of humour.
“My mum had one funny story of their old student flat days, many, many moons ago. If you asked Jules if there was beer in the fridge, he would go over, pick up the whole fridge, shake it, put it back down. If no beer bottles rattled, there was no beer.”
Councillor Lee Vandervis said he always did what he thought was the best thing to do.
“He had his assumptions. He had his views. He did his absolute best and we are all lucky to have had a genuine and decent bloke like Jules to be our mayor,” Vandervis said.
His partner Pam Walker thanked his “work family” for their beautiful tributes after accepting his certificate of service.
“When Jules was no longer mayor and taking on the councillor role again, he was so excited to be doing that. He still said he had so much to do, ’cause I was constantly saying ‘are you sure you want to do this?’. But no, he was just so passionate,” she said.
A by-election for the now vacant seat will be held in May.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
