Tim Hubbard

Timothy John Hubbard was a Waiheke identity, politician and businessman, who moved to Waiheke in 1985. With his wife Sylvia Hubbard, he developed a solid waste disposal site at Fisher Road, Onetangi. A geologist by training, Tim was elected to the Waiheke Community Board in 1995, and was a widely popular politician who specialised in lateral solutions.

He was also deeply involved in the Waiheke Volunteer Fire Brigade and Waiheke Sea Scouts.

Tim was also known on Waiheke for his deep connection to Japan. In 1995 he organised a relief programme to bring 100 children made homeless by the Kobe earthquake to Waiheke.

He died tragically on October 1, 2000, when out fishing with a close friend from Australia, Mark Butler, in a five-metre borrowed dinghy. Both their bodies were found near the boat on the far side of the Tamaki Strait the next morning. A community in shock grieved in numbers at St Peter's Church. Tim, who died aged 47, was survived by four children.

Sylvia Hubbard was later elected to the Waiheke Community Board.