About 50 people - including Mayor Peter Chin, most of the city's councillors, council staff and members of Mr Adie's family - were at the council's civic centre building for a reception to mark his contribution.
The civic reception followed Mr Adie's decision last month to resign as chairman of the Dunedin Ratepayers and Householders Association - 20 years after he first challenged a council rates decision as a member of the Rate Crisis Committee.
Mr Chin, addressing the reception, said Mr Adie had been a constant presence at council and committee meetings, helping keep the city's elected representatives on their toes.
"You always treated councillors with respect, even though they may not have agreed with you, nor you with them."
Councillors and council staff also took the chance to pay tribute to Mr Adie's contribution to city politics, noting his "unique" character and his love of his family, Coronation Street and model trains, as well as his devotion to causes.
"It's not easy . . . to take on city hall," Cr Neil Collins said. "You have got to have a pretty thick skin. You have been prepared to do that."
Among family at yesterday's reception was Mr Adie's wife, Lillian (69), and son Bryce.
And, given the final word for once, Mr Adie yesterday thanked councillors for their kind messages - and Mr Chin for "saying I was a problem".
"It's nice to know I got under the skin of someone," Mr Adie grinned.
