Right up until the end of her life, Otago regional councillor Maggie Lawton was a tireless advocate for her constituency.
Dr Lawton (67) died in Wanaka on Monday morning after a short battle with cancer.
Tributes flowed yesterday for the first-term councillor, who according to friends and colleagues will be remembered for her tireless work on environmental issues and her advocacy for the Otago region.
The Wanaka-based councillor was diagnosed with cancer about two months ago, after it was discovered during an operation.
Her funeral will be held in Wanaka at The Venue at 3pm tomorrow.
Daughter and Queenstown Lakes district councillor Ella Lawton said her mother was still working on council issues late last week while being cared for at the Upper Clutha Hospice room in the Aspiring Enliven Centre.
She had planned to take part in a council meeting held yesterday.
"I was planning on helping her phone conference into the council meeting today. She wanted to work right through to the end.''
Ella Lawton said her family appreciated all the words and thoughts people had sent them during her mother's illness and since her death on Monday.
As well as serving on the council, Dr Lawton was a scientist and a strong advocate for the environment who gave her time and expertise to a number of community organisations including the Lake Wanaka Trust and Alpine Lake Research and Education Centre.
Fellow regional councillor Michael Laws said in all his 30 years of public life he had never met a more qualified or credible person than Dr Lawton.
After starting as political rivals, they quickly become political partners and friends, Mr Laws said.
"She was a genuine wonder woman with a great intellect, serious courage and an ability to empathise with almost everyone.''
Friend and district councillor Alexa Forbes said when Dr Lawton spoke, people stopped and listened.
"She was an inspiration to people like me. She was a super intelligent person taking these environmental issues really, really seriously, and when she spoke, people listened. Nobody would have called Maggie an old hippie.''
As a friend, she was hospitable and warm and loved good wine and good food, Ms Forbes said.
"I haven't know her for a very long time but I'm really going to miss her.''
Wanaka Community Board chairwoman Rachel Brown said it was now up to others in the community to continue Dr Lawton's work.
"I was really looking forward to working with Maggie on being an interface between the two councils and bring the regional council and district council closer together.''
Her death was not only a great loss for those close to her, it was also a big loss for the Wanaka community, Ms Brown said.
"It's a real big loss because here was someone who was willing to really take the issues to the ORC and make the ORC accountable to the community.''
Regional council chairman Stephen Woodhead said that as chairwoman of the council's technical committee, her contribution, while brief, was an indication of the time and effort she intended to put into her role as a councillor.
"It's come as a shock. We were only getting to know Maggie.''
A paper would be submitted to the council in the next three weeks outlining the process for filling the seat left vacant by Dr Lawton's death.
As well as Ella, she is survived by her three other daughters Katrine, Hayley and Christine and grandchildren Dante, Luca, Zoe and Matteo.
Instead of flowers, people are asked to help fund a Wanaka restoration project in Dr Lawton's name by donating to millionmetres.org.nz/open-project/in-memory-of-maggie.
