In Memoriam: Kiwis we lost in 2016

Several notable New Zealanders passed away in 2015, including famed lawyers, rock stars and three ex-All Blacks taken far too soon.

John Angus, Former Children's Commissioner, 66

During his time as commissioner, from 2009 to 2011, Dr Angus took Child Youth and Family and other authorities to task for a lack of action over child neglect, which he called the commonest form of maltreatment. He also led work on preventing child abuse for the Taskforce on Action on Violence within Families.

Bill Ballantine, marine reserve advocate, 78

Dr Ballantine was a major part of the fight to enact New Zealand's Marine Reserve Act in 1971, and overcame considerable opposition to create New Zealand's first marine reserve at Leigh Marine Laboratory in 1977 - one of the first "no-take" reserves in the world.

Sir James Belich, former Wellington Mayor, 88

Sir James was mayor of Wellington from 1986 to 1992. He won the mayoralty as part of a campaign to halt the discharge of raw sewage into Cook Strait, and as a result, a treatment plant was installed near the airport.

Norm Berryman, rugby player, 42

A popular player in the 1990s, Berryman shone with a flamboyant attacking style and laid-back approach off the field. A decade-long career included three seasons with the Crusaders, with whom he won three Super Rugby titles and played 30 times for, as well as also representing the Chiefs and the Blues. He died of a suspected heart attack in June.

Jack Body, composer, 70

Mr Body, was a composer, photographer, artist and teacher whose work covers almost all genres, and was influenced by a fascination with the music and cultures of Asia, particularly Indonesia.

Graham Brazier, rock musician, 63

Brazier came to prominence with the band Hello Sailor in 1975, with iconic songs such as Gutter Black and Blue Lady, and cut three solo albums. In his spare time, the Aucklander ran a second-hand bookstore in Mount Eden.

Jerry Collins, All Black, 34

Collins played 48 Tests for the All Blacks as a blindside flanker, captaining the team three times and scoring five tries. He debuted for Wellington in 1999, and played 74 times for the Hurricanes, with his final season coming in 2008. Collins, who had been playing in France, was killed in a car crash along with his partner Alana Madill in June. They are survived by their baby daughter Ayla.

Sir Ronald Davison, former Chief Justice, 94

Sir Ronald was head of New Zealand's judiciary for 11 years, from 1978 to 1989, and was best known for chairing the Winebox Inquiry into alleged tax frauds in the mid 1990s.

Robin Duff, gay rights activist, 67

Mr Duff was the president of the Post Primary Teacher's Association (PPTA) from 2007 to 2009 and again from 2011 until 2013, and was known for his work to make schools a better place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex students.

George Gair, former National MP, 88

Mr Gair was a cabinet minister in the governments led by Robert Muldoon from 1975-1984, holding at different times the portfolios of transport, energy, health and social welfare. He also served as National's deputy leader, from 1986-1987.

Bruce Gregory, former MP, 78

The Te Rarawa GP became the member for Northern Maori in 1980, winning the seat in a by-election following the resignation of Matiu Rata. Dr Gregory held the seat until 1993.

Erima Henare, Ngati Hine leader, 62

Mr Henare was the chairperson of the Māori Language Commission, and had a long and distinguished career in the public service. More than 3000 people, including the Maori King, travelled to Northland's Otiria Marae to farewell him after he died of a heart attack in May.

Tama Huata, Maori performing arts veteran, 64

Mr Huata founded the Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre and the Takitimu Performing Arts School in the early 1980s. He was also part of the entourage that led the Te Maori exhibition to San Francisco in 1985. Mr Huata was an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit and was internationally recognised as an expert in indigenous arts.

Sir John Ingram, engineer, 90

Sir John's career ranged from the Roxburgh Hydro scheme in the 1950s to manufacturing and the academic world, and he became the first managing director of New Zealand Steel. He held several directorships, including IBM and the National Bank, and was a pro-chancellor of the University of Auckland, and a president of the Auckland Manufacturers' Association.

Dorothy Jelicich, former Labour MP, 87

Mrs Jelicich represented Hamilton West from 1972 to 1975. She was also a Hamilton City Councillor before being elected to the Manukau City Council in 1980, where she represented the Mangere Ward until her retirement in 1995.

Daniel Keighley, music festival promoter, 63

The director of five Sweetwaters music festival, including the financially disastrous 1999 gig, Mr Keighley was also an event manager for the Parihaka International Peace Festival in Taranaki and was elected chair of Access Radio Stations of Aotearoa in 2013, while managing bands such as the Muttonbirds.

Celia Lashlie, author, 61

Ms Lashlie wrote and gave talks on how to raise boys and social justice issues. She worked for 15 years in the prison service, starting in December 1985 as the first woman to work as a prison officer in a male prison in New Zealand. Her final role in the prison service was as manager of Christchurch Women's Prison, a position she left in September 1999.

Jonah Lomu, All Black great, 40

Arguably the greatest winger the All Blacks ever had, and certainly one of the most influential, Jonah Lomu's sudden death in November stunned New Zealand, with thousands turning out to several memorial services. After debuting as the youngest ever All Black in 1994, the rugby star became the face of the game after exploding onto the world scene at the Rugby World Cup in 1995, and scored 37 tries in 63 games for the All Blacks.

Peter McLeavey, art dealer, 79

Mr McLeavey set up his first gallery in Wellington in the 1960s, and became the trusted friend of many of the country's top artists, including Colin McCahon, Toss Woollaston and Len Lye, whose work he promoted and sold.

Dame Thea Muldoon, wife of former PM Rob Muldoon, 87

Dame Thea married in the former prime minister in 1951, and was at his side when he served in the country's top job from 1975 to 1984. She was the first prime minister's wife to have her own full-time secretary and was made a dame in 1993 for her services to the community.

Manos Nathan, artist, 67

Mr Nathan, of Ngapuhi, Te Roroa and Ngati Whatua descent, was the leader of the Maori ceramic movement, and co-founder of Nga Kaihanga Uku, the national Maori clayworkers' organization.

Craig Norgate, first Fonterra chief executive, 50

Mr Norgate was appointed CEO when Fonterra was created in 2001 at the age of 36 and headed New Zealand's biggest company and exporter for two years. He later became chief executive of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. Mr Norgate died in London in July.

Anzac Pikia, journalist, 35

Mr Pīkia, from Ngāti Hikairo, Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāpuhi, spent almost 20 years in television, working for both TVNZ's Maori news programme Te Karere and Maori Television's news service, Te Kāea. He worked as a reporter and as a senior producer with Te Karere which he also occasionally presented.

Steve Rickard, local wrestling legend, 85

Mr Rickard toured the world as a wrestler and promoter during the sixties and seventies, but was best known to New Zealanders as the host of weekly television wrestling show 'On the Mat', which ran for nearly a decade from 1975.

Sir Don Rowlands, rowing champ, 88

Sir Don was a national and international champion rower, an administrator and a Rowing New Zealand selector. He won nine New Zealand rowing titles between 1949 and 1957, and served as a selector from 1960 to 1977.

Lecretia Seales, right-to-die advocate, 42

Ms Seales took legal action in the High Court asking that her doctor be allowed to help her die, without then being prosecuted for doing so. She was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2011, and died in early June. A judgement released at the time of her death rejected her fight to die on her own terms.

Gordon Stephenson, farmer/environmentalist, 91

Dr Stephenson was the initiator of the QEII National Trust, which helps farmers preserve natural and cultural features on their land, and the Farm Environment Awards. He was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to conservation in 1998, and passed away this week.

Sir John Todd, philanthropist, 88

Sir John chaired the Todd Corporation from 1987 until he retired in 2011. He led the business into many ventures in energy exploration, production, generation and distribution, as well as telecommunications and property. He was also one of the country's top philanthropists as well as a leading patron of the arts, and chairman of his family's charitable Todd Foundation.

David Walden, advertising guru, 66

Mr walden was a four-decade veteran of the advertising industry and founder of the agency Whybin TBWA Group. The agency was best known for the ASB Bank's 'Goldstein' campaign - one of the longest-running uninterrupted advertising campaigns in New Zealand.

Sir Peter Williams QC, lawyer, 80

Sir Peter was involved in some of the country's most high-profile criminal cases over the past 50 years, and was a tireless campaigner for prisoners' rights and penal reform. Over his long career in the law, he acted in several famous cases. He defended Arthur Allan Thomas for the Crewe murders, Ronald Jorgensen for his part in the so-called 1963 Bassett Road machine gun murders, and Roy Rau, who had stabbed his estranged wife 20 times.