Sir Michael Fowler, mayor who transformed Wellington, has died

Tuesday, 12 July 2022

The former Wellington mayor, Sir Michael Fowler, has died aged 92.

An architect by trade, Fowler was mayor of Wellington, from 1974 to 1983, who was known as a colourful character.

His name will forever be linked to the Michael Fowler Centre, which was a big part of his vision to create a modern city. Opened in 1983, the centre was hugely controversial and was built despite considerable opposition.

After standing unsuccessfully for Parliament for National, Fowler grabbed the Wellington mayoral chains in 1974 from Labour stalwart Sir Frank Kitts​, who was known as a dour character who did little to move the city forward.

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Historian Redmer Yska, who interviewed Fowler for a history of the Wellington City Council, described Fowler as a “hurricane” who changed the face of the city forever.

The key to his success was his warm personalty and drive.

A modernist in his approach, Yska said Fowler had a vision for the city and although his methods were unorthodox, he was extremely successful.

His approach to fundraising for the centre included approaching a Saudi Arabian arms dealer and American philanthropist and multi-millionaire Nelson Rockfeller, as well as organising a civic raffle.

Rosemary Bradford , who was 24 when she was elected to the council in 1974, recalls Fowler as a charismatic figure who got things done by the sheer force of his personality.

His methods around the council table were often unorthodox.

“The way he went about things would never be acceptable today. He would ride rough shod over the council.”

“He had a vision to lift 'Soviet’ Wellington from the drab Frank Kitts days of 'civil servants in cardigans and walk shorts' image to a city with energy and culture.”

Although his original idea was to demolish the old town hall, Fowler eventually succumbed to public pressure and the building was retained.

Wellington architects Daryl Cockburn and Roger Walker believe Fowler deserves a lot of credit for creating a building that has served Wellington well and stood the test of time.

His time as mayor was not without controversy. In the 1960s the vulnerable state of Wellington’s earthquake-prone buildings became clear.

Yska says Fowler enthusiastically created a “development frenzy” encouraging owners to demolish, rather than earthquake strengthen old buildings.

Many of the city’s finest old hotels came down but it was on Lambton Quay that the policy had its biggest impact. Half of the 187 at-risk buildings along the city’s Golden Mile were bowled.

Knighted in 1981, he stood down in 1983 and returned to architecture but always retained a keen interest in Wellington. A talented artist, he enjoyed sketching Wellington landmarks.

Fowler was last in the spotlight in 2011, defending the Wellywood sign.

'I've believed it to be clever, witty and relevant and its critics dumb, humourless, totally irrelevant and probably Irish', he wrote in a letter to the Dominion Post.

He said he was 'appalled' at the widespread dissent about the sign, given that critics were given the opportunity to come up with a better idea and could not. 'I hate them with a loathing.'

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated Rosemary Bradford was 20 when elected to the council. She was 24. (Amended 8.53am, July 13, 2022)