David Ellison at the Karitane Marae. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
Mr Ellison was upoko (chief) of Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki, at Karitane, where his tangi will be held on Thursday.
A death notice in today’s Otago Daily Times says that Mr Ellison died on Saturday at Otago Community Hospice.
A member of the Ellison family, members of whom have held leadership positions in Otago for generations, Mr Ellison was a retired schoolteacher.
The Malaya war veteran was also involved in veterans welfare advocacy and children’s health causes.
Plunket was a cause close to Mr Ellison’s heart: his father Tommy was one of the first Plunket babies, and in November Mr Ellison attended the opening of Kotahitaka, the new Plunket family hub, in South Dunedin.
A full obituary will follow.
