The funeral for Graeme Weld, the Western Bay of Plenty's long standing Mayor, was held in Te Puke yesterday, November 20. He died of cancer in Tauranga Hospital on Saturday, November 15.

Graeme was known in the Bay of Plenty community for his big heart and as an advocate for his community, a fact recognised by his constituents when he was returned as mayor unopposed in the last local body elections.
Prime Minister John Key met Graeme at the recent official opening of The Sun's No. 1 The Strand in September and this week offered his condolences to the family and friends of the Mayor.
'I last met Mr Weld only a few weeks ago, and was saddened to hear of his passing,” says John.
Graeme was Mayor from 2001 until his death. He joined the Western Bay of Plenty District Council as councillor for Te Puke ward in 1989. He also served on the Local Government New Zealand national executive.
'He contributed much at both a local and national level in the local government sector. His passion was roading, and he was a strong advocate for his district and the wider Bay of Plenty region.
'I offer my thoughts and condolences to Mr Weld's colleagues, friends and family at this time.”
Chief executive officer at the WBOPDC, Glenn Snelgrove, has worked with Graeme since the council was formed in 1989.
'He and I have been involved right through the Western Bay's existence, we have had 19 years together,” says Glenn.
'Graeme was focussed. He knew what he wanted and he knew where he was going. He always had a big heart for the people.
'We'll never have another Graeme Weld. The shadow he casts is long. I have never ever seen any politician work as hard for his constituents as Graeme.”
Graeme was born in Ngaruawahia in 1937. His father was a marine engineer at Affco, and his mother was a homemaker who was also involved in local body politics.
Young Graeme attended Ngaruawahia primary school and completed high school at Hamilton Boys' High School where he played in the 1st XV.
After secondary school he completed a Diploma in Agriculture at Massey and his compulsory military service, before heading off around the South Island with a mate to gain some farming experience.
Their vehicle was a 1927 Austin 20. That particular one is believed to have ended its life in a gully somewhere, but his interest in Austin 20s never left him. When Graeme died, he owned three: an 1922 Austin Tourer with the licence plate 1 MAYOR, a 1929 Windsor Saloon named Daisy, and a 1926 Limousine, Myra.
Following the South Island adventures, Graeme returned to the North Island and obtained a job in Morrinsville as a stock buyer with Wilson Meats. He met his wife Susan when she was working as a dental nurse at Reporoa.
In 1958 Graeme was transferred to Te Puke, and in the late 1960s bought 50 acres in Rangiuru Rd.
A new family home was built on the property in 1970. In 1974 the Welds bought another 96 acres next door and began dairy farming.
Graeme made television after he bought a new motorised hay bailer near Christchurch, and drove it home. It took 12 days.
'And we still use it,” says Richard Weld, Graeme's eldest son.
'When I was seven or eight he said ‘son if it's worth doing, it's worth doing well.' He had heaps of quotes, but that always stuck in my mind.”
Richard says his father rarely actually milked a cow, preferring to concentrate on stock buying.
'He loved the wheeling and dealing side of things,” says Richard.
'He knew how to talk to people and not at them so they didn't feel belittled. He was stock buying for Wilson Meats for 32 years.”
The skills developed during those years of stock buying, dealing with cockies, talking to farmers, paid off when Graeme began his career in local body politics.
Graeme was foundation member of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council following the 1989 local government reshuffle. He spent three terms as a Te Puke ward councillor before becoming deputy mayor in 1998. Graeme has been mayor of the district for three terms, standing unopposed at the last election.
Graeme is survived by his wife Susan and sons Richard and Gerard and daughters Melanie and Vanessa – all of whom live within 20 kilometres of Rangiuru Rd and three of whom are still involved in dairy farming.