Murray Wells Harris
22 December 1934 – 10 June 2024
Murray Wells Harris
22 December 1934 – 10 June 2024
Murray was born in Ashburton 22 December 1934, the son of Phyllis & George Harris – his mum was a housewife and his Dad a Rural Mail Deliveryman and previously a vet’s assistant. He was the middle child to sisters Margaret (McGuinness) and Ngarita (Niven).
Murray was a bright student receiving the School Dux Award before leaving school to attend night classes at an Ashburton Trades School in joinery whilst working on his uncle’s farm and spending as much time as possible in the hills and crafting his mountaineering skills.
He then got an apprenticeship in a Tinwald workshop which did cabinetry and fittings as well as some general building works.
He moved south and worked as a high country musterer on a number of large sheep stations in and around Mt Cook and Wanaka, working on William Hamilton’s station (the inventor of the Hamilton Jet Boat) among others. Using his time to “conquer” more of the Southern alps. He also worked as a contract culler in southland in the pest eradication programme of the time – possums and high country Tar and Deer. He worked and saved hard and to buy a one way ticket to Australia to see the world…
He travelled around Queensland and Tasmania, working in forestry, banana harvesting, nursery gardens and carpentry jobs. Initially travelling on a motorbike with a tent before swapping the bike for an old Model A Ford car, which he could also sleep in.
Whilst away his mother would put “a couple of bob a month” into his bank account to make sure he had money for food.. at the local post office, where a certain Gladys Langford worked. Murray came back to New Zealand in his late 20’s and went to get some money out of his account, where he met Gladys - they were married soon after in Collingwood, Golden Bay.
They came back to Ashburton to live, eventually buying a piece of land and planting the areas first apple orchard and Murray built their first house. This is where the children were born (Cynthia, Andrew and Derek). They established the orchard and a gate sales business, expanding with another orchard on the other side of town for increased production. In the mid 70’s chemical sprays forced Murray to have to sell the orchards and they made the move to Richmond, Nelson.
In Nelson Murray worked as a maintenance carpenter at Nelson Hospital for two years before going to work for the council as a foreman for the PEP scheme – building footpaths, walking tracks and small municipal shelters with a team of work skills students.
In the late 70’s tragedy hit the family with the loss of Andrew in a cycle v motorcycle accident which the family never really recovered from.
In the early 80’s Murray built a new family home in Richmond which they lived in till they moved out of in 2020 to go to Kensington Court Retirement Home.
In the following years, Murray working as a contract carpenter building houses and flats in and around the greater Nelson area. At a forestry exhibition in the early 80’s an accident whilst deconstructing a display home saw Murray break the bones in his left wrist. Being a stoic man and needing to keep working to provide for his family, he carried on building and ruptured the bicep in his right arm. After struggling on for a number of years, Murray finally stopped physical work as a carpenter and took a job as a salesperson at Wilkins and Field (now Mitre 10) Richmond for 2 years.
In the early 90’s Murray became the Richmond distributor for “junk mail”. He had Gladys would go on to employ hundreds of Richmond student runners during the time they had the business, which continued for over 20 years. This they called this their “Paid Pilates” as it kept them active in their later years.
Also, in the 90’s Murray saw a tin can plane whilst on holiday and decided to try his hand at making them. This started the “Nelson Market Can Plan Man”, where Murray would spend hours every day of the week in his workshop making planes from every sort of drink can. Then on Saturday morning, rain – hail – frost or fine he and Gladys would get up very early to go to the Nelson Market. They did this for over 25 years where Murray loved to meet the tourists and locals to talk to and share tales, stopping only when his health forced him to move to the retirement home.
Murray lived there, recalling stories and going for walks around the corridors and gardens to keep active till the day before a large stroke laid him to rest.
A Celebration of Life to be held at Shone & Shirley Chapel on Saturday 02 August 2025 at Half Past One (1:30pm).
Notice by Shone & Shirley Funeral Directors
Tributes
We (The Trow family, with kids Murray and Jennifer) many happy hours out in the backblocks somewhere tramping or kayaking and then rafting. Murray H had fashioned a raft of old car tubes and boards all lashed together and off to McLeans on the Motueka River. A nasty wind came up and then we had a hard head wind to try and paddle into, but we got to where ever we put in to the shore, all cold and quite wet but it was fun. Our Murray was called on one day when Murray H was building their home on Farnham Drive. Our Murray was about 14 or 15 and I went up later to see what they were doing. Well after nailing up a few roof trusses they were sitting up their having a big discussion on the mountains over on the Mt Arthur range. We have lots of happy memories of our families outings. Unfortunately we also have lost our Murray on 22nd June, the angels came and took him up the mountains where he loved to go. All the very best to Gladys, Cynthia and Derek and their families. A life well lived RIP Murray.
Sincere condolences from Dave, Wendy, Hillary and Lauren. A mixed time of sadness but also acknowledgement of a life well lived amongst family and friends and a legacy of love and memories. The pictures were amazing. Take care.
I never met Murray, but I am so moved by this lovely tribute to him and his life - as adventurer, craftsman, father, husband and clearly someone with great curiosity and creativity, which I see in his daughter Cynthia! Sending the whole family our thoughts and warm wishes as you celebrate his life and mourn his passing.
Dear Auntie Gladys, Cynthia, Derek and families. Thanks for sharing Uncle Murray with us all. Certainly, there are many very fond memories of time spent with Uncle Murray both in New Zealand and in the US. He took me hiking in NZ up one of the local hills and it was like I was chasing a jack rabbit. He was up the hill before I knew what had happened. We all got such joy from the tin can plane that flew to Indiana. Much love to all
It was an honour to know my grandfather as a curious, adventurous and intelligent person who shared his history and our mother’s history with us during our visits to New Zealand. We are incredibly grateful for your presence and your memory.
Fond memories of Uncle Murray, a straight up, hard working man who loved a yarn (and the odd lecture). Holidays at Smithfield Road, the smell of apples always reminds me of the happy times there & of course that fantastic swimming pool where we spent hours. Then later on in Richmond, Uncle Murray taking us canoeing on the river after he finished work, up the gorge to neat swimming hole & trips to Rabbit Island. Robin & I visited several times & he was always keen to show us his projects in the garage and he was especially proud of his tin planes. Mum often recalls the antics from their childhood with a few laughs. Our thoughts are with Auntie Glad, Cynthia, Derek and family's. Love to you all - Marg, Kerry,Robin,Jenny and family's
Dear Gladys and family, we were truly sorry to hear that Murray had passed away after what can only be described as a very eventful life of hard work and enterprise. He was always very committed and focused on whatever he was doing be it work or play. I recall many days rock climbing with him on the crags of Takaka Hill, the hills of the top of the south and the mountains of the Mt Cook region. His contribution to the rebuilding of the De la Beche Hut in the Mt Cook National Park as a member of the NZAC was considerable. We also remember you both on Sunday walks with your late friends Ray and Jena Copson up on Cleveland Tce. Our own lives are the better for having known Murray. Yours sincerely Richard and Hilary Pearson
Murray exhibited to me a critical quality to a great and fulsome life - curiosity. This, coupled with an extraordinary work ethic, made a positive impact on anyone he met, including myself. I also see it everyday in his daughter. It is woven into the way I experienced and see New Zealand. Thinking about Murray and Gladys, their family and wonderful house on the hill in Richmond, and long walks in the hills experiencing nature with that family!
It was a shock to hear of the passing of Murray as he and dad are identical in age, its been a long time since we have caught up face to face but the photos make it like yesterday, so thanks Cynthia and Derek for the memories. We are globally separated but these photos join us as if we were all still back in Ashburton having a swim in Murray and Gladys pool being watched by grandad and grandma Harris, I can remember it vividly. As a family our thoughts go out to Gladys Cynthia, Derek and their families.
I will always remember being excited to come to New Zealand to see you and Gran, and learn about my family from so far away. All of those trips to New Zealand where you taught me and Sophia how to make cool new things, run the paper route, and see the home our mum grew up in will never be forgotten. You will be remembered by these memories in my heart, thank you for being my grandad.
Uncle Murray - you are gone but you will always be in our memories and will never be forgotten. Im so pleased I came and visited you and Auntie Gladys when I was in Nelson last. It was wonderful to see you both so well and reminiscing about days gone by. Today we send our Love and sincerest condolences to dear Auntie Gladys and to you Cynthia, Derek and your families. 'Goodbyes are not forever, Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean we'll miss you until we meet again'.
Notice by Shone & Shirley Funeral Directors
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