The long-time partner of the late Sir Tim Shadbolt used his public funeral on Friday to deliver a scathing critique of how he was treated during his final days in office, saying members of the council had “blood on their hands”.
Asha Dutt, who met Shadbolt when she was a University of Otago student, and he was serving his first term as mayor, was the second-to-last speaker at the more than three-hour service held at Invercargill’s Civic Theatre.
According to a report by Hamish McNeilly of Stuff, she told mourners she had promised Shadbolt she would speak on his behalf and “fire a few shots”. Dutt said, “Everyone has a Tim story,” highlighting his warmth, humanity, kindness, resilience, and deep compassion. “He gave everyone the time of day.”
However, she said his jovial public persona often masked deeper struggles. Shadbolt, she said, had no sense of time, little attention to detail and no interest in personal wealth. During his final term as mayor, he became increasingly isolated.
“He would walk into that council every day knowing he didn’t have a single friend, and he didn’t,” she said, Stuff has quoted.
Dutt described how council members were dismissive of him in meetings.
“They would sit around in chairman’s meetings and they would be dismissive of him, and put him down, in front of him. Can you imagine those coward punches to his feelings, and his soul?”, as quoted by Stuff.
She said it was “the extreme stresses that were placed upon him, and the total lack of support from the people that should have supported him in [council] that turned his health and turned my own”.
“In my heart, the council of 2019 have blood on their hands,” she said.
A large section of the audience applauded as Dutt highlighted how Shadbolt was left to pay his own legal bills following a lengthy court case and recalled being told to move his belongings out of his office because “We don’t have the budget for boxes,” according to Stuff.
How his career ended was “a shame on you”, she said.
“We love you, Tim, power to the people,” she added, drawing a standing ovation from much of the crowd, Stuff has quoted.
Earlier speakers emphasised Shadbolt’s deep commitment to Invercargill, evident in his long tenure as mayor and the large turnout of mourners. Shadbolt died last Thursday, aged 78.
His public funeral was held in the city’s 1000-seat Civic Theatre, a venue extensively redeveloped under his mayoralty and once host to the premiere of The World’s Fastest Indian, in which Shadbolt made a cameo appearance. Hundreds of people lined up outside in brisk conditions to pay their respects, Stuff has reported.
Among the dignitaries present was Dunedin mayor Sophie Barker, who said a mighty tōtara had fallen in the south. Invercargill mayor Tom Campbell said almost everyone in the city had met Shadbolt at some point and described him as, in many respects, “the perfect mayor”.
The service featured clips from Shadbolt’s many media appearances, often marked by unintentional comedy. His casket was piped onto the stage, where Dutt placed his mayoral robes on top, alongside a replica of Burt Munro’s Indian motorbike.
Family member Tui Shadbolt greeted the audience with: “Hello Invercargill, buckle up there is a Shadbolt at the microphone”. She traced his life from his birth in Auckland in 1947, the loss of his father in 1952, his activism, varied working life and political ups and downs.
“For 26 years, Invercargill, you had his focus and heart,” she said. Despite setbacks, including an unsuccessful run for New Zealand First in 1994, Shadbolt returned to office in 1998 and remained mayor until 2022, as quoted by Stuff.
“Today we honour Sir Tim Shadbolt,” she said.
His son Robert Shadbolt shared childhood stories and spoke of the generosity of Southlanders, while Ben Shadbolt said the way his father lived, with his “big smile and heart”, was contagious.
“The spirit of Dad will live with all of us for a long time … that is what I’m so proud of you dad.
“I’m really going to miss you, Dad… the man, the myth, the legend … Tim Shadbolt,” Stuff has quoted.
Music throughout the service included The Beatles’ All You Need Is Love and With a Little Help from My Friends. Long-time friend and activist Tāme Iti said Shadbolt did not just attend protests, “he was the protest”.
Invercargill-based MP and Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds reflected on their work together, noting Shadbolt never met criticism with negativity.
“We mourn the loss of an absolutely extraordinary man,” as quoted by Stuff.
Hundreds later lined the streets as the funeral procession passed landmarks including Invercargill Airport’s Sir Tim Shadbolt Terminal, bidding farewell to one of the city’s most enduring figures.
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