Taranaki-born man remembered for contribution to tourism in Vanuatu

A South Taranaki man who helped to put a tiny South Pacific nation on the tourism map has died at the age of 72.

Bryan Death died at his home in Vanuatu, a conglomeration of 80 islands west of Fiji and east of Australia, with a population of about 280,000, on September 29 and his funeral was held there on Wednesday.

Bryan and his brothers, Peter and John, grew up in Hāwera with their parents, Maurice and Kath.

After he left Hāwera High School, Bryan's work took him all around New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific, first in banking then tourism, where he was well respected, Peter Death said.

"This led to him taking over the management of Iririki Island Resort in Vanuatu in 2001 and in recent times he became involved promoting tourism in Vanuatu as well."

Bryan Death was also chairman for the Vanuatu Golf Open, which brought 200 golfers amateur and professionals from the South Pacific.

"This event has grown steadily after recovering from Cyclone Pam with his tireless promotion work," he said.

Dan McGarry of the Vanuatu Daily Post described Death as detailed, devoted and a doggedly hard worker, who could be blunt when the concerns of his community needed facing up to.

He was always focused on the wellbeing of others and would be sadly missed.

Bryan Death was a member of the Vanuatu Tourism Office Board and a man who was 'not afraid to challenge the status quo and challenge us all to think more broadly—and to do better', the Vanuatu Daily Post reported.

He was a leading figure in Vanuatu's tourism industry for over seventeen years, a former GM of Iririki Resort and Moorings Hotel, and a partner in resort management consultancy firm Total Management Solutions.

More recently, he developed private villa accommodation listing website Vanuatu Luxury Holiday Homes and acquired Pango resort Angelfish Cove Villas.

Beyond the positive contributions Bryan made to Vanuatu's tourism industry as a manager, investor and business owner, his contributions as an industry leader are perhaps his greatest legacy, the Vanuatu Daily Post reported.

He had three children and five grandchildren.

* The Death family will holding an afternoon at The Local in Hāwera on October 27 for family and friends to share their memories of Bryan.