OAMARU, 27 July 2026

Waitaki is mourning the loss of long-serving councillor, broadcaster, writer and community advocate Jim Hopkins, who died in the early hours of Monday while still serving the district he represented for almost two decades.

Waitaki District Council confirmed his passing on Monday morning, saying Councillor Hopkins had made a significant contribution to both local government and the wider Waitaki community.

His death has prompted tributes from council leaders, colleagues and residents who knew him as a passionate representative, an independent thinker and a man whose humour remained central to his public life.

Hopkins was elected as an Oamaru Ward councillor in 2007 and remained in office until his death on 27 July 2026.

He also served for three years as deputy mayor of Waitaki after being sworn into the role on 19 October 2010.

Before joining Waitaki District Council, Hopkins served four terms as a councillor on the former Banks Peninsula District Council, giving him many years of experience in local government and public service.

A strong voice for Waitaki

Waitaki Mayor Mel Tavendale said Hopkins was deeply respected across the council and throughout the wider district.

She described him as a true voice for the people and a fierce advocate for the communities he represented.

“He was a fierce advocate for the people of Waitaki, both within and beyond council, and he scrutinised every detail. He kept us all honest,” Mayor Tavendale said.

“The council chamber will not be the same without him, his passionate arguments, attention to detail and incredible wit.”

Hopkins was known for closely examining council reports, questioning proposals and challenging fellow elected members to consider the wider consequences of decisions.

He was not afraid to disagree, and his contributions to council discussions were often detailed, carefully considered and delivered with the wit that had become one of his defining qualities.

Mayor Tavendale said Hopkins believed strongly in democracy and in the district he represented.

“Jim believed in democracy and he believed in Waitaki. I can only say again how deeply Jim will be missed as a councillor and as a friend,” she said.

The mayor also asked the public and media to respect the privacy of Hopkins’ family, friends and loved ones during what she described as a deeply challenging time.

Council remembers his humour and dedication

Waitaki District Council Chief Executive Alex Parmley also paid tribute to Hopkins, describing him as a thoughtful councillor who brought both careful judgement and a sharp sense of humour to his work.

“Jim always brought a very considered approach to his responsibilities on council, together with a wicked sense of humour, and that was something we all valued,” Parmley said.

“I extend my condolences to his family and friends.”

Parmley said the council was working closely with Hopkins’ family to help provide a fitting farewell for a man who had dedicated much of his later life to serving the community.

“We are working with Jim’s family to provide a fitting farewell for a deeply community-minded man whose commitment is something we can all look up to,” he said.

Council staff and elected members are also being supported as the organisation comes to terms with the loss.

For many within the council, Hopkins was not only a colleague but also a friend and a familiar presence in the council chamber over nearly 20 years.

A well-known figure in broadcasting

Long before he entered local politics, Jim Hopkins was already a familiar name and face across New Zealand.

He built a successful career in television, radio, writing and public speaking, becoming known for his intelligence, humour and distinctly New Zealand approach to storytelling.

Hopkins worked as a television presenter, talkback radio host, columnist, author and scriptwriter.

His career included work on science, current affairs and entertainment programmes, as well as shows that celebrated New Zealand inventors and everyday ingenuity.

He was also a scriptwriter for the television drama Close to Home and presented programmes including Fast Forward, Don’t Tell Me, The Inventors and Dateline Monday.

His radio career included hosting talkback programmes on Radio Pacific and Radio Avon.

He was also widely recognised as a public speaker, commentator and debater, known for his ability to bring humour and insight to serious topics.

Author who celebrated Kiwi creativity

Hopkins was also known for his writing, particularly his work celebrating New Zealand creativity and practical problem-solving.

His book Blokes & Sheds explored the inventiveness found in garages, workshops and backyard sheds around the country.

The book became associated with a distinctly Kiwi approach to innovation, where ordinary people created useful, unusual and sometimes eccentric inventions using limited resources.

He later wrote Inventions from the Shed, which also became the basis for a documentary television series.

Through his writing and broadcasting, Hopkins helped bring national attention to people who might otherwise never have appeared on television or been recognised publicly.

He celebrated tinkerers, inventors and community characters, presenting their ideas with humour and respect.

From national media to local democracy

Hopkins’ move from national broadcasting into local politics marked a major shift in his public career.

Instead of commenting on public life from the outside, he became directly involved in the decisions affecting local communities.

At Waitaki District Council, he became known for his careful reading of reports, detailed arguments and willingness to challenge both staff and fellow councillors.

He consistently spoke about the importance of accountability, transparency and democratic debate.

His approach could be forceful, but colleagues often acknowledged the depth of thought and experience behind his contributions.

He brought the same communication skills that had defined his broadcasting career into the council chamber, where his speeches and interventions were often memorable.

Hopkins remained active in council affairs until his death, continuing to represent the Oamaru Ward and participate in local decision-making.

A lasting legacy in Waitaki

For the people of Waitaki, Hopkins became much more than a former broadcaster who entered politics.

He became a long-term local representative who developed a strong connection with Oamaru and the wider district.

His years in office covered a period of major change for local government, including growing infrastructure costs, pressure on council finances, debates over rates and increasing demands on smaller communities.

Throughout those changes, Hopkins remained a prominent and outspoken voice.

His contribution will be remembered not only through formal council decisions but also through the relationships he built, the arguments he made and the humour he brought to public service.

He was respected for his ability to scrutinise issues closely and for his belief that elected representatives had a responsibility to challenge, question and speak openly.

Funeral arrangements

Waitaki District Council said it was working with Hopkins’ family to arrange an appropriate farewell.

Funeral details will be made available through Whitestone Funerals.

The council has asked that the privacy of Hopkins’ family and loved ones be respected while they grieve.

Jim Hopkins leaves behind a public career that spanned broadcasting, writing, entertainment and local democracy.

His voice was familiar to New Zealanders for decades, but it was in Waitaki that he chose to devote the final chapter of his public life.

As Mayor Tavendale said, the council chamber will not be the same without him.