Former Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has died aged 71 after being diagnosed with cancer last year.
Former Dunedin mayor Dave Cull. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
Cull served as mayor for three terms from 2010.
He stepped down at the 2019 local body elections to stand as a candidate for the Southern District Health Board and to spend more time with his family.
Cull stepped down as Southern District Health Board's chair after his cancer diagnosis.
Dunedin's current Mayor Aaron Hawkins said Cull took over the mayoralty at a time of bitter division in the city.
He said the strength of the council's current relationship with iwi was thanks to Cull.
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta said she is deeply saddened to hear of his death.
She said he was a man of many talents, a colleague and a friend. She said Cull led the Dunedin City Council and later Local Government New Zealand through many difficult periods.
Cull was also elected as president of Local Government New Zealand in 2017.