Malcolm Guy 1937 - 2017

Born on February 9 1937, Mr Malcolm Guy has been an asset to Levin and the Horowhenua Community.

The Guy family moved to the district in 1943. Living in Koputaroa, Malcolm’s parents raised their five children on a farm. Their family home is one of the oldest buildings in the Horowhenua District. The steps of the beached boat, Hydrabad, sit in the woodshed, giving access to the loft above.

Malcolm and his siblings attended the local primary school at Koputaroa, which at the time had a roll of ninety students. Mr Guy was one of nine students lucky enough to ride to school on horseback. When the children arrived at school on a rainy day, the saddles from the horses would be stored in the play shed. The horses, however, were left to fend for themselves in a paddock specifically reserved for them. At this time the roads were not sealed.

‘Children would walk along the railway tracks as a short cut to school. Many of the children had bare feet. Their feet were fairly tough and many would run along the sharp stones.’

Many of the children attending Koputaroa Primary school were Maori and most came from the local marae. Like today, Koputaroa played against other country schools such as Porotawhao in sporting events. As there were no school buses to take the children, those who did not get a ride in an automobile had to walk or ride bicycles to school.

Since the Guy family moved to Koputaroa a lot of things have changed. Flax used to be used for drainage. In Foxton during the 1930s an industry was set up for cutting flax. It proved a big success. Many Maori were employed. They would go through the swamps with horses on tram lines to take the flax out. During the depression the industry also provided jobs for the unemployed. In more recent times a drainage system has been installed.

Land usage has also changed. The number of sheep farms has decreased and dairy farms have increased in size. In the view of Mr Guy, farming has been forced to change in order to keep up with economic developments and change.

Malcolm married Betty. They had two sons, both of whom attended Koputaroa School and Waiopehu College. Mr Guy became involved in the School Committee and was Chairperson of the Committee. He was also involved in the Waiopehu Board of Governors for several years.

Malcolm Guy and his family have had a long involvement in local government. His father Duncan was on the County Council for thirty-five years and was chairperson. This may well have played a part in Malcolm’s decision to become involved in government for the last 21 years and also influenced his brother, Andrew, who has been a member of both the Wanganui and Rangitiki County Councils. Mr Guy said:

‘Because of my fathers interest and because of what the Community was like to live in, I wanted to put something back into it too!’

As a young man Malcolm joined the County Council and later chaired the Coucil.

Before 1989 The Horowhenua Distict Council did not exist. The district was divided into four separate counties: Levin Borough, Horowhenua County, Foxton Borough and Manawatu County.

In 1989 big changes in Government forced 450 separate councils into 87 councils. The change occurred when councils could not agree on things.

In 1989 Malcolm Guy became Mayor of Levin and District. As Mayor he got to open local clubs and do interviews with school groups and journalists. A Mayor is expected to maintain close communication with the local people, attend government meetings in Wellington and Palmerston North and keep residents informed on a relative issues.

Mr Guy supports the D.A.R.E. Programme, a drug and alcohol abuse course aimed at primary school students to stop crime, peer pressure and drug and alcohol abuse. The D.A.R.E. programme was set up in 1991 by Dennis Mallon, a local Police Constable, and now features in all local schools.

Malcolm enjoys living in the Horowhenua district because of the environment and friendly and caring Community. Levin also has good facilities and is close to two main cities. (Wellington and Palmerston North) every three years the council hold elections and in 1995 Mr Guy decided to retire, having served two terms in the office of Mayor. As to the future for Levin and the Horowhenua Mr Guy believes the district has a great one.

Photo Above: Horowhenua County Chairman from 1986 - 1989, Horowhenua District Council Mayor 1989 - 1995