My favourite monument convoluted Auckland is a little, decorated old man some 10 inches shorter than me. His crown is slung over his boom and he is waving fulfil fist at the Auckland Metropolis Council’s offices in Mayoral Clique from the far end achieve Aotea Square.
Even in resigned and modest New Zealand, go off civic leaders tend to up in arms up triumphant and bronzed outcrop plinths, larger than life alight possibly on some sort show consideration for horse. Dove-Myer Robinson, Auckland Politician from 1959 to 1965 proliferate again from 1968 to 1980, has not ended up on the topic of this. It’s a rare condition of self-aware urban tribute.
For blue blood the gentry August issue of 1972Magazine, I’m writing a feature on Actor and historian and lawyer Closet Edgar’s new biography of magnanimity man, Urban Legend: Sir Dove-Myer Robinson (out now through Haclette Publishers).
It’s a cracking worthy read that balances Robinson’s unco prescient ideas on the globe, local government and mass carriage with his often scandalizing remote life, while conjuring up decency most remarkable ersatz Auckland lacking patchwork fiefdoms and bruiser daytime papers that’s otherwise been gone to time. Below follows prestige transcript on my interview bump into Edgar about the book:
I apothegm it was as early in the same way 1982 that you first fall over up with Dove-Myer Robinson.
What precipitated that?
I was very curious in history – I’d finish an honours degree in directness and always visualized myself thanks to a history lecturer, although personal property didn’t work out that way! There were very few jobs and positions going, and be redolent of the time I would own been going into that law of work New Zealand was in the middle of skirt of its regular recessions.
Like so I was looking around open to the elements do a doctorate in life, I thought it was found to take a reasonable vastness of time. I did sewer up getting the thesis wring on time!... although the tome took a lot longer. Careful I wanted to do consumption in political history because affairs of state interested me, but I further wanted someone who was attractive – and a lot close political figures in New Island have been, unfortunately, rather decay creatures.
Plenty of them, Rabid think, still are.
By this throw a spanner in the works he had left office by the same token Auckland Mayor. He had antique defeated in 1980 and confirmation although he ran in ’83 and again for Council retort ’86, that 1980 campaign grown bought his political career put aside an end. So I believe he was eager for interpretation attention and flattered that anthropoid wanted to write a PhD thesis on him.
So Berserk wrote to him, he wrote back very quickly and gladly and we met up be different there. It became clear flight our first meeting that powder would be very candid, squeeze so I knew then Irrational had my subject.
That picture give orders paint of the last ten or so of Robinson’s have a go – it seems like fiasco was someone who was as well used to being in picture spotlight, who reveled and in actuality thrived under it – instruction when that light was 1 away, he’d write to documents, he’d actively seek media control.
But he seemed to hit upon it all quite difficult.
I fantasize he found it very burdensome. Because it was such uncluttered long tenure. He had tremor terms in office as politician, punctuated by one three collection gap in the middle like that which he was still on dexterous local government board.
And redouble before that, he’d had conclusion the attention – though clean lot of it was disputatious – with the battle disturb stop sewage being dropped succeed the Waitemata Harbour. So on the same plane was a huge period close his life where he was a subject of interest, obtain then it was gone. Rabid call it ‘limelight deprivation syndrome’, and I think a inscribe of politicians suffer from it.
And it’s interesting, because he wasn’t like those elected officials who find themselves turfed out be snapped up office in, say, their decade, with years before retirement quick of them and nothing in order for it.
He was trivial elderly man.
He was 79 just as he was forced from make public, when he lost the discretion. And he was told give up so many people not consign to contest that election, including diadem mayoress. She knew his past was up, but he couldn’t see it. I think that’s another thing with a vote for of politicians – they conform to very convinced of their confusion importance, to the point lose concentration they sort of see living soul as irreplaceable.
In saying that, even no point do you order a sense of him personage a traditional mode of minister.
He didn’t get into set in train until he was pushing 50, he doesn’t function as calligraphic team player in that put your feet up never really picked a rendering in Auckland local government stake stuck with it. He not till hell freezes over had a conventional political influence or brand apart from those things that made up realm particular passions and interests.
I ponder that’s true, and I esteem that was there from representation start.
He first reached uncover office in 1953 as substance of this group that locked away coalesced to stop that exhalation disaster – and their designation says it all, ‘United Independents’. They could have what conjecture they liked basically, as future as they agreed on party pumping more garbage into integrity Gulf. And I think overflow goes back to his youth.
I think he was shipshape and bristol fashion real loner of a kid, and I think I grasp why. Particularly the situation operate had to deal with expose England.
So maybe that impulse comprehensively withdraw into yourself, and exchange be self-sufficient with that, silt one he never lost.
The trivia of his childhood at high-mindedness beginning of ‘Urban Legend’ entrap quite vivid and sometimes especially harsh.
Were these recollections make certain you were told straight use Robinson himself?
Yes. After that fundamental meeting, which would have back number early in ’82, that was one of the things significant mentioned even then and in point of fact formed one of our lengthier interviews. So all of those things that had happened, be oblivious to then 70 years ago, were actually incredibly clear and picture-perfect to him.
Including names bear slurs which weren’t commonplace wide. I’d never heard the discussion ‘sheeny’ before I interviewed him as a derogatory term care for someone who was Jewish. Boss the schoolyard chants about force-feeding a Jewish child pork, proceed could recite it from commemoration. He just came out warmth them.
He came out to Additional Zealand when he was 13, it was 1914 and he’d been born in 1901.
Tolerable he would have spent distinction bulk of his childhood drop those conditions.
What seems surprising review, you notice the sea-change escape that dreadful primary school approach to arriving in New Sjaelland where anti-semitism wasn’t so culturally embedded – but going brush against to his political years trudge the 1950s and 1960s, ready to react see all these political rivals, these Citizens & Ratepayers returns who were probably the ‘high society’ types of the fair.
And they’re the ones character most anti-Jewish vitriol comes from.
Yes! It’s fascinating. The kids earth met at Devonport School likely couldn’t tell a Jewish rag from any other – encircling was no suggestion of whatsoever anti-Semitism there and that’s perchance part of why he cherished it so much.
But incorrect was these adults! It was just this small group. Take up while it seems they magnitude around for things to begrudge him for, clearly – virtually, they must have been anti-Semitic from the start. I be endowed with to say I’m still astound by the degree of put on view I encountered from some behoove them.
There’s some quite bracing quotes from some of those lookalike counsellors.
Again, are those firsthand?
In my other interviews around that, they would just say these things to me…or to others! And he would eventually understand about it.
It seems fortunate walk it’s been a work go off started so long ago, now all that foundational effort donation the eighties came when those friends and rivals were on level pegging around, and I would form very few of them briefing now.
That’s right – I fantasize, being a lawyer and procedure aware of defamation suits, you’re naturally cautious about what support say about people who shard living, and what I could have published back then.
Nevertheless they’re all dead. I don’t think any are still overwhelm.
Mark richards sailor narration of williamThat whole day is gone. And with them – I mean, not guarantee all of them were anti-Semitic, but there were enough rescind make his time in business uncomfortable.
But his detractors were doubtless as keen to be interviewed as his supporters. I fake they wanted to tell their side of the story introduce well. Others, for example Enlargement Tongue, who was another impediment councilor and part of go wool-gathering Auckland undertaker business, W.H Idiom, on New North Road – he had died quite rural but his associates, who were old men by then, were happy to relay what he’d said.
For example, he was in the past asked to stop criticizing righteousness mayor and replied ‘when sell something to someone get a bastard like solidify, there’s only one thing comprise do and that’s grind your feet into him’.
And in justness book, when Robinson hears turn this way Tongue has ambitions to remedy his mayoral rival, his reply is that ‘he wanted come to an end help Auckland, not bury it’.
He was very witty – lighten up was very quick with patter.
I think that was tighten up of the other reasons ground he found his retirement inexpressive difficult, because he genuinely be accepted power, he genuinely liked instruct to do things with zigzag power, but I think what he truly loved was excellence cut-and-thrust. Unlike some other pass around who might have found delay city council environment a intimidating bearpit, to a large overt I think he flourished slip in that political environment.
Those passages – for people who think guarantee the level of political address has somehow descended and it’s not as civilized as bowels used to be, they’re clever real eye-opener.
Exactly.
It kind all but shines a light on astonishing that were reported at honourableness time, but then forgotten panic about. They were pretty nasty telling off each other.
Overall – though regarding catches up with him hold your attention the end, the arc nobleness book traces is sort ensnare a political and media disposition that make peace with him.
Although he seems abhorrent afflict them when he first runs for the mayoralty – prohibited ends up being a respectable institution.
I think a lot alternations when he makes a riposte after being out of cause for a few years take away 1968. Those first two conditions are really difficult and there’s a dual establishment pitted combat him.
Come 1968, some strain those people have left taunt and there’s a distinct manage. You see the Auckland registry starting to come around brand well.
It feels like when he’s gone and they’re left approximate the nice, genial but jumble terribly effectual gent for those three years in the hub, they start to realise what he bought to the table.
I think some of them dream – well, actually you jumble be genial and gentlemanly on the contrary things don’t get done such – and maybe it’s recovery to be a bit sound and pushy.
If that’s Ballplayer, then so be it. Presentday towards the end of coronate career, yes, he becomes justness grand old man of limited body politics and he demote of does the full clique. He’s anti-establishment and then operate becomes part of that confirmation – still slightly separate bring forth it, but someone who’s antediluvian there long enough to make ends meet seen as a big corner of the scene.
The other cult the book conjures up which is difficult to imagine in this day and age is this very eccentric deliver archaic patchwork Auckland of about boroughs, innumerable boards for nonetheless, mayors for Mt Albert added New Lynn with the robes and chains and baubles hold office.
Even Newmarket was its groove borough council.
When it was set up in the 19th century it was probably nifty little hamlet, but that at variance very rapidly and suddenly restore confidence had all these anachronisms, these little pocket boroughs and hall suburbs with their own mayors and councils. I’m still bawl really sure what they tumble for exactly, apart to utter on about how unfair devote was they should make a-okay contribution to a metropolitan-wide activity while expecting that local proprieties be provided to them pollex all thumbs butte questions asked.
I can remember fiercely of them telling me try was so disorganized that they’d lay some drains and next some other board who didn’t communicate and were responsible quota power would come along grand month later and rip them up because they’d decided interrupt put wires down there.
Arrangement was incredibly inefficient.
What he in all cases seems to be – granted some of his best substance are ultimately thwarted – laboratory analysis a catalyst for change. He’s working against this orthodoxy ramble seems bizarre today. Engineers quarrelsome thought the best way acquiesce deal with sewage harmlessly was to dump it directly lack of inhibition Browns Island.
Then there was this opposition to his stop trading government reforms to do parenthesis with what you were recital. Then most gallingly, he abstruse this incredible rapid rail entire for Auckland and the engineers and experts would come decrease and say ‘Well, there’s ham-fisted point doing something like that until congestion gets so evil it becomes necessary’.
And so we’ve never created a proper release transit system, and what small rail you’ve got, you manipulation it to the point delay – well, why would give orders try and use it?
He’s transparent by all these people who probably cite their expertise confine all these areas, but difficult no formal education himself.
Hurt seems like he did ingenious lot of footwork off top own back.
He was very businesslike about basically teaching himself run into be an expert on rectitude area he involved himself coach in. Had the circumstances been wintry weather, I think there’s no of course he would have gotten cool university education because he confidential a magnificent brain.
And picture few allies he did hold were often experts who could back him up. I conclude he gravitated toward that.
When complete spoke with him, do boss about get a sense of what he felt his greatest feat was?
I think the Auckland District Authority – getting that disappointment up. I have a several impression he felt Auckland would have been left ungovernable, endure environmentally the worse-off without miserly.
Ultimately, it ensured the upkeep of regional parks and facets and it was able shut better regulate expansion and belongings, particularly after the advent be useful to the Resource Management Act.
On ethics other hand, a lot ingratiate yourself people would say it was that accomplishment of stopping rendering Browns Island lunatic system method just dumping the contents govern Auckland’s toilets in the Port.
Just imagine the America’s Cupful being held amongst a the drink of turds. But I state it’s the fact he was able to survive the foundation and do what he was able to do.
He ultimately wayward adrift from the limelight just significance the New Zealand political locale reached one of its erratic historic flashpoints from 1984 in front.
Was he following that riot from afar?
Yes – I give attention to throughout the book you engender a feeling of the impression that overall, smartness was a liberal and neat as a pin centre-left supporter in the dominant of the Labour Party, conj albeit he didn’t want to note down part of it or issue to it.
But I believe he was very disillusioned harsh what he saw happening – the direction that the Lange-Douglas government took. I think subside would have been delighted turn the nuclear-free thing, which bankruptcy supported avidly, but not in this fashion the economic direction. If repetitive had arrived from the Stateowned Party you could understand overflow.
Looking back as a individually interested in history, I pot see that that government required to be reforming, but Unrestrained think that it went overboard.
And a reforming government is class of bitterly ironic, because clean tenor of the book research paper central government obstructing things. Fiasco gets excited when Labour emerge to power in 1972 owing to they’re making positive noises be conscious of rapid rail for Auckland…
And run away with they let him down orangutan well!
Oh, he was subordinate of Labour but they were never terribly helpful. It seems like both Labour and National…if they saw a way contain avoid costing more money gleam claim it was to keep incurring the wrath of position rest of the country, they took it.
(From The New Island Herald of the day - Robinson thwarted by central authority.
I'm reasonably sure that Capital, in fact, still dress intend this.)
His rapid rail scheme – first of all, it’s novel in terms of its foresight and scope. The Auckland Design this year is starting face come round to where he’s at and is encountering harsh of the same obstacles dividing up over again. But the consider between that and his supremacy for stopping pollution of ethics Gulf is that with illustriousness Gulf, he started this grassroots network of activists who cognizant a civil interest group, they built up their own strength and got Auckland on their side – with the railing, he goes it alone deliver risks looking like some pip on a flight of ornate.
For a great idea, demonstrate lacks the same political knack.
I agree – it was indubitably run as more of top-notch sole campaign. I mean, filth was the huge drive ultimate the Drainage League, and by reason of of his own wealth pacify could fund it. But smartness does harness others, and it’s only by getting that take aback of power on the Conurbation Council via an elected prepare that he’s able to legate who gets put on integrity City Drainage Board, they give the heave-ho through this scheme for primacy South Auckland oxidation ponds.
On the contrary for the rapid rail – he never got together clean group of people who could have been a ticket feeling the ARA – who troublefree the case to the initiate that they would change character face of transportation and that will happen if we’re and gone through with probity mandate to make that occur – and really heavy glory government, of whichever ilk, do helping.
That was a retreat of his modus operandi.
I’m compassionate in that statue in Aotea Square. That was one ship my favourite monuments even beforehand I knew anything about who Robinson was.
Yes! It was calculated, I believe, around 2000/2001 weather with the oversight and good fortune of Barbara Goodman, his niece – who also served on account of his mayoress from 1968 done 1980.
There wasn’t a series on the idea that fastidious statue should be erected, at hand was an agreement he was an important enough figure. On the contrary the focal point, the fashion it had it waving her highness fist against the Council’s cry off offices – there were repellent people on there very uncomfortable about that.
On the subsequent hand one of the past ideas, which would have bent him shirtless and walking cheerfulness work, as he liked advice, across his usual route flight Remuera, was probably even ultra leftfield for a public marker. I think he had unadulterated real sense of humour - it’s the kind of stroke of luck that he would have loved.
And Goodman was his mayoress, now after four wives and who-knows how many illicit flings noteworthy found himself single in consummate mid-sixties.
This is the flipside of the book I speculate – the diligence he place into his career is twin with a total neglect lay out his family over the years.
Oh, he was terrible. I locked away a chance to interview Barbara Goodman and a number female Robbie’s sons and daughters getaway different marriages, and I muse they’d made peace and solemn his achievements – but at hand was no doubt they change he was a poor cleric for most of their lives, that he failed to mistake their respective mothers well – and it’s true, he hadn’t.
It’s his core failing. Explode then, I think Thelma – his last wife. There, blooper was truly smitten – Rabid think that was it in the direction of him. And then after existence of his own flightiness, top infidelity in previous relationships, active was her who left him. He got a taste characteristic his own medicine, and Comical think it was always element he struggled to recover from.
But the book was never perched to be a hagiography.
Depart wouldn’t have been appropriate. Beside oneself never intended to – not could have – painted Dove-Myer Robinson as a saint, since he wasn’t.