South Auckland set to farewell Sir Barry Curtis at public service

South Auckland is coming together on Friday to farewell Sir Barry Curtis, the former Manukau mayor who died on 30 March, aged 87.

A public service will be held at 11am at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau.

The celebration will give communities the chance to pay their respects and celebrate his life.

Curtis, who led Manukau for more than two decades, was remembered not only for his long-term vision but also for the personal connections he built across the region.

Manukau ward councillor Lotu Fuli shared a personal memory that captures the human side of Curtis’ leadership.

“He was the mayor when I was a little girl, when I was in school, and we came and we did a tour of his office. And his office that we did a tour of then became my office when I became chair of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board, the round room, which was like King Arthur’s round room. So I’ve got very fond memories.”

Fuli said the experience shaped her understanding of leadership and continues to inspire her work in the community.

Councillor Alf Filipaina highlighted Curtis’ strong connections with Māori, Pacific, and wider communities, describing the former mayor as someone who truly valued multiculturalism.

“He had a lot of mana. Obviously, our Pacific community really loved him,” he said. “He just loved all the fact that we were a multicultural society in Manukau.

Manukau City mayor Sir Barry Curtis addresses members of the Takitimu Cultural and Arts Society during a ceremony to bless the site of a planned Cook Islands marae on Tanners Road, Māngere. Photo/Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Footprints 03495

“He wanted to unite people, always. In particular, for him, is respecting Māori, mana whenua, iwi, respecting Māori. And I know that in the days that I was at council, and even after that, he always said that, look, Māori, especially with Te Tiriti o Waitangi, need to be respected. And he united people across all the ethnic divides. He really did, he’s a uniter.”

Filipaina encouraged youth/rangatahi to remember Curtis as a uniter and mentor, someone whose respect was earned through dedication to the community.

“I just want our rangatahi to sort of remember someone who’s a uniter. And somebody who earned respect with the work he did, definitely. And again, with Māori and Pacifica, but all ethnic groups.”

Former Manukau City Council Mayor Sir Barry Curtis. Photo/Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Footprints 03887

Filipaina also acknowledged those who supported Curtis in his later years. “I want to acknowledge Daniel Nakhle for always being there for Sir Barry over many years, because I would always ring him to arrange a visit,” he said

Those wishing to pay their respects can attend the funeral or leave a message for Curtis’ family. Memorial books are available at the Manukau Civic Building and local libraries and will be presented to the family after the service.

The public farewell marks a chance for South Aucklanders to honour a leader whose impact touched everyday lives, from council chambers to community halls while also recognising the personal warmth Curtis extended to those he worked with and inspired.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.