Heather Ayrton

After becoming a justice of the peace in 1975, Ayrton was appointed coroner for the Bay of Islands, the second woman to hold the position. She was a journalist for the New Zealand Herald for 35 years.^[1]

Ayrton joined the committee of the Northland branch of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust in 1984, and then Heritage Northland in 2015.^[2] She supported many other community groups, acting as patron for Hokianga Historical Society^[3] and chair of the Northland Conservation Board, among other roles.^[4]

In the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, Ayrton was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for public services.^[5]

Ayrton died on 24 May 2024, at the age of 90.^[5] She had been predeceased by her husband Robin William John Ayrton in 1988, and was buried with him at Kaikohe Cemetery.^[5][6]