Assid Corban

Assid Khaleel Corban (1 February 1925 – 16 September 2018) was a New Zealand local-body politician and company director. He was the first Mayor of Waitakere City and previously Mayor of the Henderson Borough Council.

Biography Early life Corban was descended from Assid Abraham Corban, who emigrated in 1892 to New Zealand from Lebanon and in 1902 established the first commercial vineyard in New Zealand. In 1948, Assid Corban married Miriam Khouri, and the couple went on to have four children.

Political career Corban was first elected as a councillor for Henderson Borough Council in 1956–1959, and again in 1965–1971. In 1971–1974, he held the position of Deputy Mayor, and he was elected Mayor of Henderson Borough Council in 1974. He held that position until the 1989 local government reforms when Henderson became part of the newly formed Waitakere City. As mayor, Corban oversaw the development of Henderson Square, a large-scale shopping centre (now known as WestCity Waitakere). He was then elected as a councillor to Waitakere City 1998–2001, and from 2007 to 2010. and the Waitakere Licensing Trust Ward 4 – Henderson.

Community involvement Corban was a longstanding member of the New Zealand Orchid Society and the Auckland Horticultural Council. In the 1988 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to local government and the community. In 1990, both Assid and Miriam Corban received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.

Death Corban died aged 93 of cancer