The two decades of service given to Dunedin by former city councillors Paul Hudson and Teresa Stevenson has been formally recognised, thanks given and tributes made by sitting councillors.
The councillors were the only sitting members of the council, who ran and were not re-elected in the local body elections.
Their service was formally recognised by Mayor Dave Cull at yesterday's inaugural council meeting of the 2013-16 triennium.
Mr Hudson's 24 years on the council were marked by a long involvement with council companies and community development, Mr Cull said.
Cr Andrew Noone said Mr Hudson had put a massive effort into the city and service.
His wider family had a long affiliation with the city in business and public service, and he was sure they would have been very proud of Mr Hudson's contribution across all levels of the council organisation and within the Port Chalmers area.
Cr John Bezett said Mr Hudson was instrumental in forming the council companies and in directing the community development committee, although there were several projects, mainly the redevelopment of Logan Park, that he was sure Mr Hudson would have been sad not to have seen through.
Mr Hudson had suffered a ''very serious'' accident and injury in the last 18 months of his term: ''He struggled quite bravely in the last year or so.''
''He has served the city well over the years and I wish him the best.''
Twenty-one year council veteran Teresa Stevenson had always displayed a strong concern for the less advantaged in the community, which, together with creating jobs, had been an unwavering focus throughout her service, Mr Cull said.
She had put an ''enormous'' amount of effort in over the years, Cr Jinty MacTavish said in tribute to her former colleague.
''Everything she did came from her heart. Every time she spoke, you got a feeling for what she was passionate about.''
She had no doubt Ms Stevenson would continue to find ways to contribute to the city's ongoing development outside the council body.
Cr Kate Wilson said Ms Stevenson always found a positive way to fight for what she was passionate about, which was one lesson councillors could take from her style as a politician, while Cr Chris Staynes said there would not be a community organisation in Dunedin that Ms Stevenson had not tried to help.
Cr Lee Vandervis acknowledged her instrumental role in setting up the iD Fashion show, and that she undertaken a planning degree while on council to gain a better understanding of that area.
Cr Richard Thomson praised her effort to stick by the issues she believed in, especially in the council environment she would have encountered when first elected, which he said would have had a less diverse range of people on it than the last, or present council.
''I think it took considerable courage for her to hold the position she did, and I certainly congratulate her for that.''
