Roger Tasker grew up a Ruapuna farmer, met the love of his life at a field day in Fairlie, lost three children in a flooding tragedy, and then spent 20 years in local government. He died earlier this month at the age of 82. Local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask spoke with his wife Bev about the life and legacy he left behind.
Raised in Ruapuna
Roger Samuel Tasker was born on May 5, 1942, growing up in Ruapuna on the farm with his parents Herb and Mary as an only child.
After attending Ruapuna Primary School he went off to Timaru Boys’ High School.
After three years his father Herb told him it was time to return to the farm.
His wife Bev said if he were given a choice he would have chosen to be a vet.
At 20 years old Roger set off for a year in South America with a friend, Peter Johnston.
“He spoke Spanish fluently and had amazing adventures from living with missionaries in the Amazon, working on large farms in Chile and Argentina, and touring other countries,” Bev said.
He was home at Ruapuna for three weeks when his father took him to a farm forestry field day in Fairlie.
It was November 23, 1963, the day the news broke about the assassination of American President John F. Kennedy.
But it would be a more auspicious date for the 21-year-old Roger for another reason.
In Lagmhor, Bev’s father also invited her along to the field day in Fairlie after the 18-year-old had spent several months in Queensland on an exchange programme.
Roger and Bev met at the morning tea break.
They hit it off immediately, attended a dance in Mayfield that night, and remained together from that day on.
Roger joined the Mayfield Young Farmers Club, with a love of debating and stock judging, he took up a leadership role and also joined the Toastmasters in Ashburton, and eventually joined the Mayfield Lions Club.
But 18 months after meeting Bev, Roger had a serious farm accident when he slipped and fell into a baler.
He spent months at Burwood Hospital in Christchurch having skin grafts for the severe friction burns on his arm and shoulder.
Roger’s sheer determination resulted in him regaining full use of his injured arm.
Family and tragedy
Roger and Bev were married in 1966 on October 22 at St Stephens Church in Ashburton – “a lovely morning wedding”, Bev says.
They welcomed their son Jeffrey in 1968, then had Julia, Leighton, and Hayden by 1973.
“Life was busy and we decided to have a first stay-at-home family holiday at Peel Forest,” Bev said.
Tragedy struck on January 28, 1975.
A flash flood in Kowhai Stream near Blandswood hit the house they were in, sweeping it away.
Jeffery, 6, Julia, 4, and Leighton, 3, as well as Bev’s 12-year-old brother Gary, were in the lounge when a wall of logs hit the house and all drowned.
Bev picked up Hayden and walked into the kitchen.
“We were in an air pocket, long enough to climb onto the roof as it collapsed.
“While up in the trees with Hayden, I knew I could rely on Roger and my dad for support.
“Knowing that gave me courage.”
Roger had been back at the farm for the harvest.
There was more bad news when Roger’s mother Mary was diagnosed with cancer.
“There were tough days but the wonderful support from family, friends and the wider community carried us along,” Bev said.
In December, Fraser was born and then Logan arrived 20 months later.
Local politics
Roger was 35 years old when he was elected to the Ashburton County Council in 1977, the start of a 20-year involvement in local government.
“Although Roger was very busy off the farm, he was always a farmer first. It helped balance things out,” Bev said.
Standing for the council was his way of giving back to a community that had supported his family through its dark times, Bev said.
Roger and Bev welcomed their daughter Hilary to the family in 1980.
Meanwhile, at the council table, Roger became the chairman of finance and forestry.
Roger’s great-grandfather had been a butcher in Ashburton, building the first abattoir in the town, so it was fitting when he became the independent chairman for Wallace Meats. After three terms on council and at the age of 44, Roger became the chairman of the county council in 1986 – he was to be the last.
Local government reforms meant Roger had to help lead the amalgamation of the county and borough councils into the Ashburton District Council in 1989.
Roger was then elected as a member of the inaugural Ashburton District Council, serving as deputy mayor to Mayor Geoff Geering.
He was also elected to the newly formed Canterbury Regional Council at the same.
“It was a very busy time getting his head around all the responsibilities the council was charged with.”
A change in legislation then meant a person could not serve on a local and regional council at the same time.
It was a difficult choice for Roger, who ended up choosing to stay at the regional council as the only representative for the Ashburton District.
That meant after one term on the Ashburton District Council, he stepped down.
“Roger worked tirelessly for the efficient use of water and the preservation of the health of rivers and streams.
“He spent countless hours of his own time on schemes like the Opuha Dam project.
“He would often say ‘whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting over’”.
During his time with Environment Canterbury, he became well-versed in the Resource Management Act.
After almost three terms on the regional council, Roger was appointed as a commissioner to the Environment Court in 1997.
“We didn’t have an office, so the kitchen table was used with the boxes of evidence stacked in corners and much of his paperwork stored in the boot of his car,” Bev said.
His contract was not renewed so Roger became an independent commissioner, chairing RMA hearings across the South Island and Chatham Islands.
He worked on several high-profile cases, including his last – the Dunedin Stadium now known as Forsyth Barr Stadium.
“He was so proud that he never had a decision he made overturned in the Environment Court.”
Roger wasn’t the only Tasker to sit at the council table, with Bev being an Ashburton District councillor for 18 years after being elected to Roger’s vacant seat in 1992.
Retirement
Roger retired when he became aware that his memory was not as sharp and travelled the globe with Bev – Great Britain, across Europe, the USA and Canada.
Roger then suffered several heart attacks, he had cancer treatment, and was diagnosed with dementia.
He had retired to the farm, now run by his son Fraser.
A busy politician and always a farmer, he put family first and was thrilled to become a grandfather to seven grandchildren, Bev said.
“He loved the house full.”
As his health deteriorated, Bev said it broke her heart to have to put Roger into full-time care.
Just three months later, Roger passed away on August 3 aged 82.
Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown acknowledged his passing at a recent council meeting with a moment’s silence.
“Roger was a strong and articulate advocate for our district for many years,” Brown said.
Roger is buried at the Ruapuna Cemetery next to his children.
“He is now at peace with the children who he never stopped mourning for,” Bev said.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
