Career
He represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games over two decades, competing in shot put, discus and weightlifting events. He was Mayor of Auckland, New Zealand"s largest city, from 1990 to 1998. 1952: Wins New Zealand Junior Shot and Discus
1960 Summer Olympics: Captain and Flagbearer for the New Zealand Team.
Placed 11th in Shot Put, and 28th in Discus.
1964 Summer Olympics: 7th place Shot. 1968 Summer Olympics: Competed injured, 11th place Shot
1972 Summer Olympics: 14th place Discus, 23rd Shot Put.
1974–1976 National Sports Director of Papua New Guinea. 1977–1979 First Director of Coaching in Athletics for New Zealand.
1978 Commonwealth Games New Zealand Coach.
He also has trained New Zealand throwers, such as Beatrice Faumuina. Personal bests
Mills"s personal best for the shot put was a New Zealand national record for 44 years, until 16-year-old Jacko Gill broke it on 23 April 2011 with a throw of 20.01 m
Mills served as the between 1990 and 1998. His Mayoral term commenced with a by-election in 1990 after the resignation of Dame Catherine Tizard, who had been appointed Governor-General.
The new council had been formed following local body amalgamation in 1989 which saw many of the district borough councils merged into one larger city.
Mills" first term oversaw the merger of these many district boroughs into one city. The Aotea Centre was also opened at the beginning of his term.
Other initiatives which commenced on Mills" watch as Mayor included the introduction of the green "wheelie bins", metered user charges for water use, council assets like golf courses were leased to private management, and the city also quit some assets that no longer were of priority, like its abattoir. During this period, the 1998 Auckland power crisis occurred, which shut down most of the inner city.
Mills" Britomart Transport Centre plans also came under some criticism as being too focused on property development and not enough on transport.
His successor Christine Fletcher led plans for a scaled down Britomart Station without the large property development plans.