Peter HARDING Obituary

After having a while to think about my Grandad one thing comes to mind, a man of few words but when he spoke you needed to listen, there is another saying that I personally think rings very true for this great man A WISE MAN LISTENS MORE THAN HE SPEAKS, this is no truer statement when it comes to him as a man of many skills and knowledge that he was willing to pass on if you were willing enough to take an interest.

I'm grateful and wiser for having such a great person in my life and I'd say that all his grandchildren would have the same to say, I especially had the pleasure of having him teach me how to sail even tho at the time it seemed more of a drag than a pleasure with those early Saturday morning starts at Bucklands Beach, this will be one of the many wonderful memories that will live on with me, in my eyes he was a great man that I loved dearly.
Love you forever Grandad

Grandad Peter was my only remaining Grandfather when I was born, so it made him extra special.
My earliest memory of him was removing wasps nest from the eaves at Aunty May's house, he was always helping everyone keeping things in order.

As I got older I always looked forward to school holidays so I could watch Grandad tinker away in the garage. Sometimes he would let me play with a little oil can I liked for some reason.
We would always end the day watching blue heelers with a hot milo.

Grandad especially had a soft spot for animals. He would come pick us up from school with a bag full of thistles he had been saving for my guinea pigs.
Later, when he adopted my last guinea pig, he made sure he lived the best life a guinea pig could ask for. He would take him outside in the morning for sunshine and fresh grass for breakfast, then at night they would watch tv together while the Guinean pig made a nest of news paper grandad had saved him.
At bed time he would sleep in a wash basket next to grandads side of the bed.

Although he had a tough exterior at times, I would always catch him shedding a tear at family weddings, I always asked him why and he always said it was just so beautiful and lovely and it made him so happy.

I'm sorry I wasn't there to give you a goodbye hug Grandad, but I know you will always be with me. You're an angel now, fly high and take care of the animals for me.

I am Proud to call Peter Harding my Uncle.
He was a kind loving Family man.
A great skilled craftsman yachtsman and businessman who could do anything he set his mind to.
He was always doing something creative which made other people happy.
I enjoyed the time I spent with Peter and Julie who always made me and my family feel welcome.
Sad not to be able to attend.
Will be remembering Uncle Peter.
Love to Aunt Julie and Family.

Jeanette Murray and Family .

FOR A WONDERFUL MAN
Thankyou for being the best father-in-law you could ask for. For the love, friendship and support you have shown me and my children. I will always have fond memories of you and you will live on in my heart and thoughts. Rest in peace.
Till we meet again.

Tena Koutou Katoa
Peter and I had been friends for over 70 years. I first met him when my mother was housekeeping for his father who was a widower. Peter and I were the same age, while Joe was his older brother and May his younger sister. We got on well together and I helped him with some of his jobs. One of them was mowing the lawns at music point with a hand mower and another hoeing the kumara garden. At other times we rowed across to the sand spit and collected shell fish, or anchored off the channel to catch snapper which were plentiful at the time. We did get up to mischief at times. We found a bag of blasting powder which Peters father had used when he was a bushman in the Hokeanga area. We crushed this and made model sailing boats, filled them with blasting powder, lit the fuses that we made, and let them go off the beach. Our most spectacular effort was when we blew up the disused dunny. We beat the Russians and the USA to putting something into orbit. Peter got a hiding for that. My sister later married Peters older brother Joe, who had a boat building business behind the house and I visited them during the holidays. Both Peter and Joe were superb boat builders; and launches, yachts, and dinghies were all lovingly crafted and many launched across the road and into the water.

All the hardings had an affinity with the sea and were foundation members of the Bucklands beach yacht club, which was a shed on the hall out area on Bucklands beach. Joe was the first president, and Peter on the committee. The family represented NZ at the 18 ft world championships in Brisbane in a boat the Peter and Joe built. Peter was the helmsman and he told me they were warned if you can out, jump into the sail, and the sharks won't get you. Possibly some Aussie BS. Peter also built a yacht witch won an olympic gold, which was a testament to his boat building skills. He was a superb yachtsman and a keen Noelex sailor. Peter was laconic with words but had a keen mind and excelled at everything he put his mind to. He was a successful business man, builder, sailor, designer, local historian, and caring father and husband. His family came first and Peter was indefatigable in his support of his family and was involved in the planning and building of the retirement home in Tauranga up to the time of his death. Bucklands beach will miss him for his Christmas light displays he put on for years and the lolly scrambles for the children. Haere ra tangata Nui.

Grandad Peter lives on in my memories as a fantastic man that was often willing to share his time with me whilst I grew up in my childhood. It was always a great time to be had when heading over to nana and grandads, especially since I got to spend many nights up till all hours in the morning learning how to play billiards against him. I am so happy he lived a great long life with so many people respecting him in all the things he did. A quiet and proud man that had a fantastic sense of humour. Rest peacefully grandad.

HARDING, Peter. Passed away December 26, 2020. Sadly missed by many people. The christmas tree lights at Bucklands Beach. Valued member for over 30 years Bucklands and Eastern Beaches Ratepayers Committee and a fountain of local history knowledge. Rest in peace Peter.