14 Facts About Brian Elwood

Brian Elwood served as mayor of Palmerston North from 1971 to 1985, and was the Chief Ombudsman of New Zealand from December 1994 to June 2003.

Brian Elwood studied at Victoria University College, graduating Bachelor of Laws in 1958.

In 1956, Brian Elwood married Dawn Barbara Ward, and the couple went on to have three children.

Brian Elwood was first elected to the Palmerston North City Council in 1968 and became the mayor from 1971 to 1985.

Brian Elwood was an executive member of the Municipal Association of New Zealand from 1974 to 1985, and president of the association from 1976 to 1979.

Brian Elwood contested the Palmerston North electorate in the 1981 election for the National Party.

Brian Elwood was defeated by Labour's Trevor de Cleene, with whom he had a long-standing rivalry.

Brian Elwood was chairman of the Local Government Commission from 1 April 1985 to 1 November 1992.

Brian Elwood was appointed an ombudsman in November 1992, and Chief Ombudsman in December 1994, holding this position until June 2003.

Brian Elwood retired from the International Ombudsman Institute in 2002.

In 1977, Brian Elwood was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.

Brian Elwood was made a Knight Bachelor in the 1990 New Year Honours, for services to local government.

Brian Elwood was conferred an honorary Doctor of Literature degree by Massey University in 1993.

Brian Elwood was widowed by the death of his wife, Dawn, Lady Brian Elwood, in 2022.