Sir Harold Marshall, 15 September 1931 - 31 August 2024

I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of Honour the Maunga Patron, Sir Harold Marshall, aged 93.

I first came to know Harold in early November 2019, when a group of Mt. Albert locals joined me on the maunga to have our photo taken for a NZ Herald article about our tree felling concerns. Little did we know what an incredible journey we would subsequently go on in our tree-saving quest.

Even though he was in his late eighties - a time when many people’s lives close in - Harold widened his already busy world even further by embracing our tree saving campaign and everything that came with it.

He was a regular visitor to HTM’s base on the maunga and active supporter of our cause, even as his age started to catch up on him and health started to fail.

In fact, he was so engaged that he came along to our picnic in February this year even though he had just come out of a long stay in hospital. It really took it out of him, but Harold was determined to be there!

Harold had an incredible intellect and high degree of engagement with the world around him. He was an internationally-renowned architect, engineer and physicist who earned widespread acclaim for his significant contributions to the acoustical design of theatres and concert halls.

He also held the position of Emeritus Professor at the University of Auckland School of Architecture and Head of the Acoustics Research Centre.

As if that wasn’t enough, he was a poet, philosopher, chorister, bass-baritone, and - through HTM’s relationship with our other Patron, Pouroto Ngaropo - embraced being accepted as uriwhanaunga (extended family) at Iramoko Marae.

Harold was confined to hospital in the weeks leading up to his passing. When I heard how ill he was, I went to see him and say goodbye and found him in a weakened state physically but as alert as ever mentally. I shared with him, what I’m sharing with you now; I was inspired by his amazing attitude to life, intellect and never-ending curiosity about the world around him and I thought he was an amazing person!

Farewell dear Harold and travel well.

- Anna Radford on behalf of the Honour the Maunga Team