Timothy Richard Shadbolt
19th February 1947 - 8th January 2026
Service Details
The Civic Theatre, 88 Tay Street, Invercargill
Livestream will be available on the day.
Livestream will be available on the day.
Friday 16 January 2026, 2:00PM
SHADBOLT, Sir Timothy Richard ( Tim). Early on Thursday 8 January 2026. Aged 78 years. Loved son of the late Donald Shadbolt and Josien Kral/ Shadbolt. Loved partner of Asha.
Loved father of Robert, Rueben and Benjamin Shadbolt ( Auckland) and Declan Lawton-Dutt ( Invercargill). Loved brother and friend/brother-in-law of Rodney Shadbolt and Sue ( Helensville) and Peter and Annette Kral ( Christchurch). Loved grandfather and uncle of his many grandchildren and niece/nephews.
Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui-a-Tāne
A public service to celebrate Sir Tim’s life will be held in The Civic Theatre, 88 Tay Street, Invercargill, at 2.00pm, on Friday January 16. Private thereafter. " As a mark of respect to Sir Tim it is requested that attendees wear formal, dark, mourning attire. Dark Lounge suit for men." Messages may be sent to The Shadbolt Family, Private Bag 90104, Invercargill 9840. Digital messages may be left at Sir Tim’s tribute page at frasersfunerals.co.nz/tributes where a livestream is available.
Messages
Rest In Peace Sir Tim - You will never be forgotten for all the good works you have done ...
DAVE LOUDON, Invercargill
Rest in peace Tim, a life well lived, what a legend!
Mary Kapene, Bluff
R.I.P Tim
You done Invercargill proud, you were the only mayor I remember from childhood and I personally thought mayors were like royalty (the cloak and gold), it wasn’t till I first voted that I realised they are very different
That’s iconic! You are a legend!
Love and strength to Tim’s family
You done Invercargill proud, you were the only mayor I remember from childhood and I personally thought mayors were like royalty (the cloak and gold), it wasn’t till I first voted that I realised they are very different
That’s iconic! You are a legend!
Love and strength to Tim’s family
April, Invercargill/Christchurch
Sorry to hear of your loss. I have many good memories from when he was mayor.
Kathryn Baird, Rangiora (originally Invercargill)
I worked for many years at ICC with this wonderful man at the helm and the face of Invercargill. His vibrancy, kindness and great sense of humour is a credit to him. Thanks for the memories Tim. You were a trailblazer and you made your mark. Rest easy now legend 🙏
Maxine Gold , Long Jetty Australia
Rip Tim you were the best thing that ever happened for Invercargill and you will always be remembered my deepest sympathy to asha and declan
Lesley gray, Invercargill
Moe mai rā e te rangatira
Liam Calder, Invercargill
🥺 deepest condolences to Tims family.
We had lots of fun times with “cow photo shoots” for calendars and also around at Bryan Campbells (and family) house and just in general you have issued me many awards over the years for things i have studied and earnt. You will always have a special place in my heart. You truely put Invercargill on the map also! You are the only Mayor i have ever voted for during my entire lifetime too ☺️. Kind regards Laura Murdoch aka LouLou the Cow Whisperer
We had lots of fun times with “cow photo shoots” for calendars and also around at Bryan Campbells (and family) house and just in general you have issued me many awards over the years for things i have studied and earnt. You will always have a special place in my heart. You truely put Invercargill on the map also! You are the only Mayor i have ever voted for during my entire lifetime too ☺️. Kind regards Laura Murdoch aka LouLou the Cow Whisperer
Laura Murdoch, Invercargill
On behalf of the Terei-Ferguson family, We send our love and condolences to Sir Tim's family. He was a true kiwi fulla, respected, loathed, admired and loved by many, from West Auckland to Invercargill 💚💛❤️ Rest in Paradise our Westie bro, your legacy will live on. Thanks to your family for sharing you with us, you will be missed,but never forgotten xxx
Trish Ferguson & Cortez Terei, Invercargill
Sincere condolences on the passing of Sir Tim.
RIP
RIP
Win, Brisbane
To Asha and the Shabolt whanau. I want to wish u my sincere condolences for yr loss. My fondest memory was touring Japan with Tim, Asha and my then girlfriend Rebecca Nicholson as an Honoury member of the Invercargil Council. Aotearoa has lost a legend but heaven as gained one. Arohanui xo
Blair Strang, Waipu
RIP Sir Tim
Ellen-Marie Carpenter, Napier
Rest in peace cousin Timothy. You have had a fabulous life and will never be forgotten.
Averil Ford, Napier
Tim will always have a special special place in my heart. He treated my family like his own family and for that I will forever be grateful. I could go on and on about the kindness and love Tim and Asha showed to the Turnbull Whanau, but I will say just this one memory that always comes to mind when I think of Tim. Tim was such a kind, giving and loving person and he always stopped during a formal gathering whenever he saw us, to give me and my family a wave of acknowledgement. He was never too big for his mayoral position and always gave his time and attention to EVERYONE. I will dearly miss Tim and will remember him for the rest of my days. My heart goes out to Asha and Declan for their loss of a husband, father and friend.
Jason Turnbull, Perth, Australia
I’m sending condolences to your whanau. It was a pleasure to meet Sir Tim and your beloved in my workplace. May the road of grief be gentle.
Jan, Christchurch
To Asha, Declan, Robert, Rueben, Benjamin, the family of Sir Tim Shadbolt,
Please accept my deepest and most heartfelt condolences on the passing of a truly extraordinary man.
Having had the privilege of working alongside Tim during my time as a List MP for NZFirst, I knew him not just as a public icon,a dedicated political colleague, but also as a tireless guardian of our community.
Tim was a “Great Tōtara” for the South, a leader who stood tall in the face of national pressure to ensure that the voices of Invercargill and Bluff were never silenced.
I will always carry the memories of the moments our concerns bought us to work together: fighting for the rights of families during the Prime Range Meats lockout, standing up for local democracy when our DHB was replaced by commissioners, the concern of compass food for our hospital patients, the fluoride debate and his insistence that we provide genuine, substantive support for the refugees we welcomed to our shores.
Tim’s leadership was never about the easy path; it was about the right path, driven by his immense heart and his belief in the dignity of every person.
While the region has lost its greatest champion, I know that your loss is far more personal.
Thank you for sharing Tim with us,for so many years.
Tim’s footsteps remain on our paths, and his spirit will forever be woven into the fabric of the community he loved so dearly.
With deepest sympathy and respect,
Ria Bond
Please accept my deepest and most heartfelt condolences on the passing of a truly extraordinary man.
Having had the privilege of working alongside Tim during my time as a List MP for NZFirst, I knew him not just as a public icon,a dedicated political colleague, but also as a tireless guardian of our community.
Tim was a “Great Tōtara” for the South, a leader who stood tall in the face of national pressure to ensure that the voices of Invercargill and Bluff were never silenced.
I will always carry the memories of the moments our concerns bought us to work together: fighting for the rights of families during the Prime Range Meats lockout, standing up for local democracy when our DHB was replaced by commissioners, the concern of compass food for our hospital patients, the fluoride debate and his insistence that we provide genuine, substantive support for the refugees we welcomed to our shores.
Tim’s leadership was never about the easy path; it was about the right path, driven by his immense heart and his belief in the dignity of every person.
While the region has lost its greatest champion, I know that your loss is far more personal.
Thank you for sharing Tim with us,for so many years.
Tim’s footsteps remain on our paths, and his spirit will forever be woven into the fabric of the community he loved so dearly.
With deepest sympathy and respect,
Ria Bond
Ria Bond, Invercargill
I want to send my deepest condolences to the family at this very sad time. Sir Tim really touched so many lives and will be very missed all over New Zealand.
Marlia Duthie , Gore
Sending our condolences to Sir TIms families an amazing man with so many talents .From first time looking after Josien and meeting Sir Tim always ready for a talk .what a privilege
Christine Keith , Invercargill
U were one in a million!!!! May u rest in peace or kick up ur heels and party hard!!! Invercargill will never forget u!!!
Andrea Heads, gore
Thankyou for sharing this special time with your family to allow us to say goodbye to a legend. Mayor Tim will be remembered fondly by all who met him. Xxx
Kate waldock, Invercargill
Much Love and condolences from our family to your family , you were a great man and a wonderful mayor am honored to have lived under your time as mayor, you will be greatly missed and cherished.
Kerry, John, Gracie, Riley, Memphis, Ngaruawahia
You put us on the map Tim..Thanks for everything you done for Invercargill.. Amazing man.RIP Tim.🌹
Val Bennett , Invercargill
Dear Uncle Tim.
From the first time you knocked on our door in The UK, with a chinese takeaway in one hand and a couple of pumpkin patch outfits for our newborn in the other, wearing that huge grin of yours, I knew you were my kind of fella!
Uncle Tim, life around you was never boring! Always open hearted, generous, spirited, compassionate, hilarious and a 'one off" character whose genuine passion to help, listen and rattle the establishment to serve the people was second to none.
Your charismatic manner supported the best in life and you were so generous in so many ways, especially in your support of our move back to NZ. Never missing a play Ilena was in or an opportunity to join us in Queenstown, just to say, 'Hello'.
One of life's unconditional humans who always reached out.
I remember, in Wellington, at the end of a long exhausting day, when all you needed was to go back and rest, you heard an inebriated student calling out, 'Hey Tim, I started my own T-shirt business'. You instinctively forgot about yourself and immediately got out of that car to shake that youngster's hand, to listen and encourage him..
Tim, you were 'The real McCoy' a man of the people. You'll be sorely missed and your kindness never forgotten.
You are held in our hearts and NZ will miss one of its greatest characters.
RIP Uncle Tim and give them a couple more World records up in Heaven ..
From the first time you knocked on our door in The UK, with a chinese takeaway in one hand and a couple of pumpkin patch outfits for our newborn in the other, wearing that huge grin of yours, I knew you were my kind of fella!
Uncle Tim, life around you was never boring! Always open hearted, generous, spirited, compassionate, hilarious and a 'one off" character whose genuine passion to help, listen and rattle the establishment to serve the people was second to none.
Your charismatic manner supported the best in life and you were so generous in so many ways, especially in your support of our move back to NZ. Never missing a play Ilena was in or an opportunity to join us in Queenstown, just to say, 'Hello'.
One of life's unconditional humans who always reached out.
I remember, in Wellington, at the end of a long exhausting day, when all you needed was to go back and rest, you heard an inebriated student calling out, 'Hey Tim, I started my own T-shirt business'. You instinctively forgot about yourself and immediately got out of that car to shake that youngster's hand, to listen and encourage him..
Tim, you were 'The real McCoy' a man of the people. You'll be sorely missed and your kindness never forgotten.
You are held in our hearts and NZ will miss one of its greatest characters.
RIP Uncle Tim and give them a couple more World records up in Heaven ..
Maria Shadbolt , London
My condolences to your family with the loss of Tim. I remember him becoming mayor when I was a teenager living back in invercargill he had a charisma that just made you smile. I personally met him at a friend's 21st a few years back and he was just a cool dude. I now reside in Brisbane Australia. I have told many people over the years about Invercargills mayor and the treasure he had been for the city. Keep smiling through the tears and take comfort in how loved he was and how many people's lives were better for having him grace it xxx
Nettie Cooper , Brisbane, Australia
Sorry for your loss he was a great mayor for Invercargill he will be dearly missed by all
Raquel , Invercargill
Requiem
They say “the lighthouse-keeper’s world is round –
The only lighthouse keeper that I know
Inhabits space, his feet well clear of ground.
I say he is of light, of midnight snow.
The other lighthouse keeper – he they say
Whose world is round – is held responsible
For manning his one light by night; by day,
For polishing his lenses, bulb and bell.
My man, my friend who lately leaves, is quite
Another type. He climbs no spiral stairs:
But go he does, for good, to man the night;
To reappear, among his polished stars.
- Sam Hunt
They say “the lighthouse-keeper’s world is round –
The only lighthouse keeper that I know
Inhabits space, his feet well clear of ground.
I say he is of light, of midnight snow.
The other lighthouse keeper – he they say
Whose world is round – is held responsible
For manning his one light by night; by day,
For polishing his lenses, bulb and bell.
My man, my friend who lately leaves, is quite
Another type. He climbs no spiral stairs:
But go he does, for good, to man the night;
To reappear, among his polished stars.
- Sam Hunt
Michael Ayers, London
Condolences to Sir Tim's family & friends a great man man who will be greatly & sadly missed let his legacy live on
Judy Davey, Rangiora
Rest in Love
You were always so kind to me and gave me great advise, Ill miss you dearly.
Regards too his family and my sincere condolences,
To all of our community that mourns him my heart goes out to you.
The mighty Totara Tree Has Fallen.
Your free now Tim.
You have earned your wings
You were always so kind to me and gave me great advise, Ill miss you dearly.
Regards too his family and my sincere condolences,
To all of our community that mourns him my heart goes out to you.
The mighty Totara Tree Has Fallen.
Your free now Tim.
You have earned your wings
Coby Uitentuis, Invercargill
A sad day to hear the loss of Sir Tim our thoughts are with Asha,Declan and family's
Memories are your treasures keep them close to your hearts.RIP Tim
Memories are your treasures keep them close to your hearts.RIP Tim
Maurice,Jill Skeggs , Invercargill
My first Memory of Sir Tim was when he put out his Book ... Bullshit and Jellybeans .
Was funny .
Was funny .
Cheryl , Christchurch changi53@yahoo.co.nz
My husband and I remember Sir Tim when he was the mayor of waitamatia, a funny and witty man who will be very much missed, condolences to his and closest friends and to the people of invercargill
Kerry and Graham O'Neill , West Auckland
Condolences to family. A great loss to the country but leaving an enormous legacy of goodwill and laughter.
With great respect for an honoured Kiwi from
Ambury Hall.
With great respect for an honoured Kiwi from
Ambury Hall.
Ambury Hall, Stratford
I wasn't from invercargill but Tim was so well known round the country. He was so out there, and was well liked and respected. You fought the good fight,no rest in peace
Raewyn, Wellington
Deepest condolences to whanau of the passing of Sir Tim. He was a man of passion and laughter also dedication to his whole whanau of Invercargill. RIP SIR TIM 🙏 😢
Barbara Palmer, Invercargill
Chur my bro Tim 😔
Anonymous , S
from Ivan Fraser, originally from Dunedin but now Auckland
I am of an age with Tim and studied at Otago and Canterbury Universitys at the same time but in different courses. (I was an Enginering student). My biggest memories over the years are his big beaming smile as if as he wasn't taking himself seriously no matter what he was agitating for or against.
You could not help but liking the guy and laughing with him.
A very rare man and life is fuller from his presence.
I am of an age with Tim and studied at Otago and Canterbury Universitys at the same time but in different courses. (I was an Enginering student). My biggest memories over the years are his big beaming smile as if as he wasn't taking himself seriously no matter what he was agitating for or against.
You could not help but liking the guy and laughing with him.
A very rare man and life is fuller from his presence.
Ivan Fraser, Auckland
You did a lot for Invercargill. You will be missed. Rest in peace Sir Tim.
Kevin & Lorraine Aitken, Invercargill Strathern
Deepest condolences to Sir Tim's family and friends. I met Sir Tim a few times when visiting my late neighbour Lindsay Abbott. I rember Tim as funny, kind and generous with his time. He also came to our small business opening staying for much longer than we thought he would making sure to have a chat to everyone. I hope your catching up with Lindsay up there and having a catchup.
Brenda Mathers, Dipton
Loved seeing Mayor Tim involved in the opening ceremony for the Bluff Oyster Festival, for many years.
Donna Wells , Nelson
Rip Sir Tim Shadbolt. So sad.
Bjarne McDowell , Tauranga
Fly high Tim, you were a humble guy!
Sarah Watson , Levin
R.I.P Tim you done well for Invercargill
Richard, Wells
I was a young doctor locuming in Invercargill when I first made friends with Tim. We had poetry, theatre and a love of ideas in common. During those months, Tim would include me in his family and friends' social events - I will never forget one kai moana gathering expedition to Tim's 'secret spot' where we got lost multiple times, but ended up triumphing and getting to work in time, followed up by a great seafood cook-off the next day. Tim was brilliant, kind, fiercely intelligent - everything his reputation suggested. He was also a rebel who never lost the art of critical thinking. As news of his passing reached me I happened to be back in Invers, now a specialist, still locuming. It was lovely to catch up with Asha and Declan recently and I send them all my love. I wish I could have read Tim more poetry.
Renee Liang, Auckland
Sir Tim..Thank you . On behalf of Southland Stroke Club and as ex coordinator I would like to offer condolences as patron off our club when you were mayor. Your support was truly appreciated R.I.P Sir Tim. A legend...
Christine Brown, Invercargill
Haere ki o matua e te rangatira koutou katoa kua wheturangitia moe mai ra he was a legend that always put a smile on people's faces never a dole moment with Tim a man that could turn a cold room into a fits of laughter he was for the people
Audra Teepa, Bluff
Sincere condolences to Asha and Tim's families - walk tall.
Anne Elizabeth McCRACKEN Anne Elizabeth McCRACKEN, Invercargill
To my dear cousin Tim who was a great part of my life during the teenage years. I loved his energy, his infectious laugh, the strength of his convictions and his honesty and friendliness. I wish that I had the chance to spend more time with him, but even with living in Canada I still followed his activities and rejoiced in his achievements. The precious time I spent with him I will always treasure. My sympathy to you Asha and his family. Julia Hass.
Julia Hass, Vancouver, Canada
What an amazing man to have had in your live. Have always loved the man/character he was. Always brightened my day. Invercargill benefited greatly from our Tim. Will always remember him
Tracey Patterson, Te Anau
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