Former mayor and All Black superstar to be added to Waitakere Walkway of Fame

The handprints of two of Waitakere’s most colourful characters, past Mayor of Waitemata Tim Shadbolt and former All Black Va’aiga (Inga) Tuigamala, will be immortalised on the Waitakere Walkway of Fame on 25 September.

“It is an extraordinarily proud moment for Waitakere to have two more of its finest join the distinguished walkway line-up,” says Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey.

“Both of them have left an indelible mark on the West. Now they are going down in our history alongside old friends, with Tim joining his cousin, author Maurice Shadbolt, and Inga his fellow All Black Michael Jones.”

A founding student of Rutherford College, champion of the underdog and prominent political activist during the 1960s and 70s, Tim Shadbolt’s political aspirations saw him serve as Mayor of Waitemata City from 1983 to 1989.

His unique style of leadership proved a hit with the people of the deep south where he has been Mayor of Invercargill since 1993 and is currently fulfilling a fifth term in office.

As well as a published writer Shadbolt has enjoyed celebrity status throughout New Zealand, appearing in a number of television shows, theatre, films and documentaries including That’s Fairly Interesting, Dancing with the Stars and The Rocky Horror Show.

Born in Samoa, All Black great Tuigamala wore the black jersey between 1989 and 1993 before heading to England to play for the London Wasps and the Newcastle Falcons. He also played rugby league for English club, Wigan.

The former Kelston Boys High School student and New Zealand Schools Rugby representative now lives in Waitakere with his family and runs his own funeral home.

He recently he opened a health facility in New Lynn, Plantation, to combat the high death rate of Polynesian men under the age of 40 from lifestyle related diseases.

In 2008 he was awarded Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby and the community. He is currently advisor to his cousin, boxer David Tua.

The pair join a host of high achieving Westies already included on the walkway located outside the council’s civic building.

Others already on the walkway are:

Fashion designer Karen Walker, musician Neil Finn, racing driver Paul Radisich, All Black legend Michael Jones, politician Jonathan Hunt, Chief Justice Sian Elias, businessman Tom Clark, community worker, sportswoman and teacher June Mariu, sportswoman Beatrice Faumuina, author Maurice Shadbolt, athletics great Roy Williams, community leader Graeme Douglas, long serving councillor Assid Corban and Maori Party leader Pita Sharples, All Black coach Graham Henry and neurosurgeon and lecturer Alan Barber.