Maurice Carter

Maurice Rhodes Carter (1 July 1917 – 9 May 2011) was a New Zealand property developer, philanthropist and local politician.

Biography Carter was born on 1 July 1917 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England. He spent much of his youth in Kettlewell, and Kettlewell Lane in the Christchurch Central City is named after him. He was apprenticed as a carpenter and in 1936, he went with friends on an overseas experience to Argentina where they worked on a plantation. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1938. Known for their quality, houses are still advertised as "Maurice Carter homes" years after his death.

Carter was a local politician. An elected member of Christchurch City Council for 33 years (1956–1989), he was deputy mayor under Hamish Hay from 1983 to 1989. In addition, he held membership of the Christchurch Drainage Board (27 years, with 9 as chairman), the Regional Planning Authority and then the Canterbury United Council (both predecessors to the Canterbury Regional Council), and was then a member of the Canterbury Regional Council for six years (1989–1995). their shops in Bryndwr were vested into this trust. The trust provides grants to a variety of causes. On 28 August 1942, Carter and Cunningham were married at Sumner. They were to have five children. Carter's son Philip and grandson Tim have taken over the Carter Group from him and both have served on Christchurch City Council.

Merle Carter died in 2008. He is buried at Bromley Cemetery.

Honours and awards In the 1976 Queen's Birthday Honours, Carter was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to local-body and community affairs. In the 1992 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire, again for services to local-body and community affairs.