Career
When he announced his intention to retire in 2007, he was New Zealand"s longest serving mayor at that time. Curtis was first elected as a Manukau City Councillor in 1968, three years after Manukau City was formed and was re-elected in 1971, 1974, 1977 and 1980. He was also elected in 1971 to the Auckland Regional Authority, the predecessor of the Auckland Regional Council and was re-elected in 1974, 1977, 1980 and 1983.
From 1977 to 1983 he was Chairman of the Authority’s regional planning committee.
Curtis was elected Mayor of Manukau City in 1983, and was re-elected in 1986, 1989, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2004. He stood down in October 2007 at the triennial elections, after 39 years of continuous service to the people of Manukau and the Auckland Region.
He was succeeded by Len Brown. Barry Curtis Park in Flat Bush is named in his honour.
Mayor of Manukau City (1983—2007)
Chairman of the Auckland Regional Authority Planning Committee (1977–1983)
Chair of the Auckland Mayoral Forum
Patron of South Auckland Hospice, Auckland Hockey Association and many other community organisations in Manukau City
Chairman of the National Taskforce for the Reduction of Community Violence Leaders Group
Deputy Chairman of Auckland Regional Growth Strategy Forum (1996—2007)
Chairman of the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy (AREDS) Establishment Group (2002—2006)
Trustee of the TelstraClear Pacific Events Trust Board
Patron of the Pakuranga Tennis Club.
