Dove-Myer Robinson

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Sir Dove-Myer Robinson, KB (15 June 1901 - 14 August 1989) served as Mayor of Auckland from 1959 to 1965 and from 1968 to 1980. He was well liked and became affectionately known across New Zealand as "Robbie".

[edit] Childhood

He was born Mayer Dove Robinson in Sheffield, England, the sixth of eight children of Ida Brown and her husband, Moss Robinson. His father described himself as a master jeweller, but actually peddled trinkets, as well as dealing in second-hand furniture. The family were poor and moved house often, and his mother imposed the strict values of her rabbi father. At each new school he was the target of anti-Semitic bullies who forced him into fights. In 1914 the family emigrated to Auckland, where his father worked as a pawnbroker.

[edit] Meeting the Queen

At a meeting with the Queen, he once boasted that he was so well known in New Zealand, that if a person were to send a letter to New Zealand addressed only to "Robbie", he was sure to receive it! The Queen tested this assertion, and indeed the letter arrived (helping the reputation of New Zealand Post).

Dame Barbara Goodman, former Auckland Mayoress and councillor, is his niece, and spearheaded a campaign for the Auckland City Council to build a statue of him in Aotea Square; the statue was completed in 2002; a park also bears his name.

He was only the second Jewish mayor of Auckland City.

[edit] References

Entry in Dictionary of NZ Biography

Preceded by Keith Buttle	Mayor of Auckland (first time) 1959-1965	Succeeded by Roy McElroy
Preceded by Roy McElroy	Mayor of Auckland (second time) 1968-1980	Succeeded by Colin Kay