Here we are at the end of 2025 — a time to pause, reflect, and remember some local legends who didn’t make it through to Christmas or the New Year.
In no particular order, we honour them here.
Southland / New Zealand
Bruce Chilton QSM
Firstly, a man of music. Bruce Chilton QSM passed away last month after suffering a stroke.
Bruce spent most of his life playing and teaching music to a seemingly endless number of students over many years. One of Bruce’s finest accolades was winning the Lifetime Achievement Award at the ILT Southland Entertainment Awards ten years ago.
Bruce’s musical legacy lives on through his wife Jenny and children Chris, Melissa and Tony — all accomplished musicians.
Michael “Spike” Griffen
A man of real estate and rugby. Michael Griffen and Harcourts Real Estate went hand in hand for many years.
Michael was also a keen rugby man, with strong ties to both the Pirates Old Boys and Marist Rugby Clubs as a player and administrator.
Phil Johnston
The Invercargill rugby community continues to reel from the passing of Phil Johnston.
A statement from the Invercargill Blues Rugby Club described Phil as a top bloke and a true Blues man. He was part of the club’s record-breaking eight-in-a-row Galbraith Shield titles.
Phil also had a long tenure representing Southland on the field as a player and later contributed extensively as a referee. The outpouring of grief following his passing has been profound and widespread.
John Bath
Remember Gladstone Cycles — the business John and son Doug Bath ran back in the day? Their ads on the local TV channel were top notch, so much so they’re still talked about today. The business was sold some years ago.
Before that, John was involved with motorcycles (Kawasaki, I’m told), then mowers at what was Tappers.
John was also a noted musician, playing trombone with the Ascot Hotel Brass Band for many years.
Diane Edwards
Diane was the receptionist at local medical practice Vercoe Brown and Associates for more than 20 years — though “receptionist” hardly does the role justice.
At any busy medical centre, that role is the hub, the gatekeeper, the centre of attention. If it falls over, everything else does too.
The tributes on Vercoe Brown’s Facebook page bear testament to Diane’s unwavering attention and cheery manner in keeping everything running smoothly.
Diane passed away recently after what the practice described as a short but very brave battle.
John Husband - QSO
The most recent loss is that of legendary broadcaster, artist and arts curator John Husband, who passed away this past week aged 95.
John rose to prominence — and in some circles, a touch of infamy — through his Southland Talks Back show on Foveaux Radio. His programme was appointment listening, with John unafraid to say on air what many Southlanders were already thinking about local and national issues.
His passion for the arts ran just as deep. John’s works were widely sold and featured in the books he published over many years. He served as Gallery Director at Anderson Park for 34 years, influencing generations of Southland artists.
The Invercargill Public Art Gallery summed up his legacy perfectly, noting that “John leaves behind a remarkable body of work – a legacy of immense cultural value that will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.” Many of his pieces remain in the gallery’s collection.
Alongside broadcasting and art, John was a gifted jazz drummer who played with many of the region’s talented musicians, particularly known for his delicate work with the brushes. A private cremation has been held.
John Allandale Lee NZCNZM (Central Otago)
John Lee was a pioneer farmer turned entrepreneur who developed what is now the Cardrona Alpine Resort ski area and Snow Farm.
John and wife Mary also owned the Cardrona Hotel, saving it from ruin before turning their hand to developing what has become an internationally acclaimed ski destination.
Peter Arnett
Journalist Peter Arnett passed away recently at his home in the United States.
Born and raised in Riverton, Peter began his journalism career at the Southland Times before going on to cover major global conflicts including the Vietnam War and the Gulf War, earning a prestigious Pulitzer Prize for his work.
His name lives on through the journalism school run by the Southern Institute of Technology.
Garrick Tremain
Renowned cartoonist Garrick Tremain passed away this week after a battle with angiosarcoma, a highly aggressive cancer.
Some of his cartoons were published here on whatsoninvers.nz over the years. Garrick also published his autobiography This Is It. Buy here.
A New Zealander by birth, he was a city child who wished he’d been a country kid. He left school to work on farms and sheep stations, where his drawing ability first raised eyebrows in smoko rooms and shearing sheds.
After a decade in advertising, Garrick became a full-time professional painter in 1972, later adding political cartooning to his bow in 1988. When time allowed, he took respite at the piano or on the golf course.
Allan White
Another notable loss is Alan White, whose name became synonymous with inner-city retail through Alan White Sports. For decades, Alan and his loyal team outfitted hundreds upon hundreds of Southlanders — from aspiring athletes chasing big dreams to families simply gearing up for the weekend’s game.
His death notice described him as an accomplished and highly respected sports dealer throughout New Zealand. The business continues to operate today on Esk Street, carrying on the legacy Alan helped build. Alan White passed away aged 97.
Noel McIntyre
Southland also farewelled Noel McIntyre, of Noel McIntyre Drainage Ltd — a man whose work helped shape and develop much of the region’s productive farmland.
Tributes describe Noel as someone who loved nothing more than a yarn and a hard day’s graft. He and his family were heavily involved in the Southland Competitions Society, as well as local motorsport, further cementing their place in the community. Noel passed away in August, with a large funeral held at Transport World.
Tony Dennis
The racing community has also been mourning the loss of Tony Dennis, a stalwart of Southland and New Zealand thoroughbred racing. Tony was one of four brothers who established a highly successful training and breeding operation near Woodlands, which thrived for more than six decades.
Their operation produced some of the country’s best-known racehorses, including The Phantom, The Phantom Chance, The Jewel and The Chosen One, all of whom achieved success at the highest levels on both sides of the Tasman.
Tony passed away in August after a lengthy illness, aged 86, leaving behind a legacy deeply embedded in New Zealand racing history.
Murray Brown
Earlier this year, well-known harness racing trainer Murray Brown also passed away. He enjoyed a long and successful career, training 551 winners, many of them on his home track at Ascot Park. His contribution to the region’s racing story will be remembered for years to come.
David Hubber
In recent days the city has also said goodbye to one of its great characters, David Hubber, the long-time owner of Hubbers Emporium — a shop unlike anything else in Invercargill.
David began the mid-city house of collectables many years ago after running a variety of businesses successfully. It has been reported that he bought the current building for 75 pounds decades ago. What the property, and the site itself, might be worth today is anyone’s guess.
David Hubber passed away peacefully earlier this month aged 84, leaving behind a business and a legacy remembered fondly by generations of locals.
Jamie Searle
Jamie passed away during 2025 suffering from an aggressive form of stomach cancer and at far too young an age. For those not in the know, Jamie was the long-time racing scribe for The Southland Times and established a lifelong interest in horses and racing at an early age.
As a sign of the times, the racing page disappeared along with many other feature pages, but Jamie more than proved his worth moving on to general reporting, which by all accounts he excelled at. However, Jamie was not slow to grab an opportunity, and he started his own racing website back in 2000. But it wasn’t long before he was back at his desk at The Southland Times, where he stayed until more recent times.
Since leaving The Southland Times, Jamie went back to writing about racing on his popular Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page. Just who is going to keep that going remains to be seen.
Former colleague and close friend Logan Savory just recently wrote an in-depth article summing up Jamie’s life – check it out here: https://southlandtribune.substack.com/p/a-proud-southlander-support-flows
As a tribute to his contribution to racing, a piece of lawn that greets racegoers at Ascot Park in Invercargill is now known as the “Jamie Searle Lawn”. Searle was aware of this before he passed away and was very humbled and honoured to be remembered by the local racing community. Jamie Searle was 61.
Peter Galt - Lawyer
A founding figure in prominent legal practice Hewat Galt.
In a tribute from Hewat Galt, it was said Peter was a much-loved member of our community, a man of great intellect, generosity and warmth. A founding figure of Hewat Galt, he played a significant role in shaping the firm and the lives of those who worked with him.
Beyond the law, Peter made lasting contributions through his involvement in Rotary, where he was a lifetime member. He was passionate about motorsport, taught at SIT for many years, and built friendships across all walks of life.
The tribute went on to say that an avid reader with a keen interest in history and politics, Peter was always fascinating to talk to – his mind as full as the piles of books around his favourite chair.