Passed away peacefully on Wednesday August 21st, 2024, in his 80th Year.
Loved husband of Seiko, cherished father of Kate and Douglas.
He lived on the Coast on and off for 50 years. He will be remembered by many as a teacher at Buller High School and an active member of search and rescue in those years.
He was a local writer and painter, most recently he lived in Hokitika, where he loved walking around the local area and was well-known for his storytelling.
Messages can be left on Nicholas’s tribute page at www.thompsonfd.co.nz
A Service for Nick will be held at Thompson’s Riverside Chapel, 88 Gibson Quay Hokitika on Monday, September 2nd, at 2:00 PM, followed by the burial in The Hokitika Cemetery .MESSENGER Nicholas (Nick)
Nicholas (Nick) Messenger
August 21, 2024
Our Deepest sympathy to all of Nick’s family. We miss him in our neighbourhood. Chris & Vern Abbott.
Deepest Sympathy to you all.
Thinking of you during this sad time .
Thinking of you Seiko at this very sad time. Sending you our thoughts and prayers.
thinking of you all at this very sad time love Sharyn and Kevin Ratcliffe
Thanks, Sharyn. I spoke with Jas, at length, last night. Our families have overlapped for almost four decades, now, and in so many of my memories of adventures with Dad, Jas was right there with us. Much love to both you and Kev.
hi Doug so great to hear from you glad Jas caught up with you so sorry we are unable to be down in Hoki hope all goes well We are back living in Westport and loving it take care xxx Sharyn and Kevin
Nick, when I think of you I always see that cheeky grin smiling out from behind your ever-present beard. I remember your deep, philosophical discussions on anything and everything – I looked up to you so much as a boy and I’d like to think that I learned a little of my own fascination with the world around me in your presence. Thank you for being a patient, engaging and committed teacher, and a stout family friend to the Schurr clan.
To Seiko, Kate and Doug, my deepest sympathies, from our family to yours. Nick was one of a kind and he’ll be missed by so many. All our love.
Thanks so much, Aidan. I love hearing how Nick touched the lives of other people, and that was beautifully put. I’m not sure if you’ll be there on Monday, but if not, would it be alright for someone to read that out?
Hi Doug, I won’t be able to make it unfortunately as I’m tied to the office – Geoff and Ray will both be there however to pay our shared respects. I’d be honoured if my note was read out.
In the late 1970s and early 80s I was H.O D. English at Buller High School in Westport. At that time Rachel McAlpine’s excellent play “The Stationary Sixth Form Poetry Trip had just been written to become something of a cause celebre. But at Buller the idea of a Mobile Sixth Form Poetry Trip was floated.The entire Sixth Form would be transported in a bus with blacked out windows to various locations in and around Westport and at each location the kids would be de bussed – have a poem relevant to the site read to them ,re embark and off to the next location . The idea of the blacked out windows was to get the kids to see each place with “fresh eyes”. A stunt surely? Intellectual fluff ! Well – no. Because Nick Messenger, a member of the Science Department came on board, came on the bus and provided the intellectual rigour ,the selection of poems, the meat and potatoes to what otherwise may have been popcorn and candyfloss.
He did not stop there.He stage managed many of our school revues and wrote sketches for them.And during a Buller Arts Festival it was Nick Messenger helping erect a temporary stage – with flats – outside the Buller Council Chambers in the school holidays. That’s the Nick Messenger I will remember.
David, I would have been still at Waimang primary during your tenure at BHS, so I’m not sure if you’ll have any memory of me, but I remember well his enthusiastic engagement with school reviews – and even took part in a number of them in the late 80s. His love of the arts was a huge part of who he was. Every time someone recalls a different aspect of him, it revives another piece of him. Thank you.
Sunday day-walks with Nick & Geoff in the mountains around Westport were such a treasure. We’d pack a lunch then head out somewhere for the day just because – just to get a view into the top of Ngakawa Gorge, or just to climb Mt William from the North-East, or to see if we could find an old & forgotten mine. Nick would always lead the conversation, which would often run continuously for the whole day – from history to politics and everything in between. Normally a humorous tale of coincidence, and sometimes a little persuasive, but always interesting – well he made it interesting in a way only Nick could. It didn’t bother me that I was spending my weekends hanging out with my science teacher from school. He was Nick, someone who seemed to have lived 200 years already, with an incredible understanding of the world and the forces which drive it. Thank you Nick for these times & stories, and thank you Nick for leaving us with your stories published and artworks made so beautifully. The world is richer, more colourful and better from Nick’s presence.
My deepest sympathies to Seiko, Kate & Doug.
Wow, Tim. Thanks so much. That’s definitely getting read out, this afternoon.
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Nick.
He was just one of the most fantastic people.
I used to love getting up in the hills with him and my dad Geoff – he was always such a fascinating source of wonderous stories and good humour.
He opened my mind to the world beyond our small country and inspired me to travel and discover it.
On reflection I’m not entirely sure how many subjects he actually taught me at high school.
He was truly remarkable in that he could teach virtually any subject – English, Science, Maths, Art … such a clever and talented man.
I’m sure Nick will be sorely missed by the many people who’s lives he has touched in some way.
My sincerest condolences to Seiko, Kate and Doug.
Crispin Schurr
I have fond memories of Nick, hadn’t seen him in many years, but remember him well.