Burr (55) was working as an air traffic controller at Christchurch Airport and the strain of the job was taking its toll on his colleagues.
He decided to retire to the West Coast for a more peaceful life.
"It was the best move of my life," he said.
"I had a holiday home on a 15-acre [6ha] block close to the town.
It paid dividends, for both his health and his athletics career started to blossom.
He proved it at the World Masters Games in Sydney last year when he won a bronze medal in the 800m and was fourth in the 1500m, high jump and 400m hurdles in the men's aged 55 to 59 grade.
His wife, Clare, is also a talented runner and holds a New Zealand Masters record in the 2km steeplechase in the women's aged 45 to 49 grade.
Burr won five medals - four gold and one silver - at the Masters Games at the Caledonian Ground at the weekend.
He won gold medals in the 400m (64.18sec), 800m (2min 22.61sec), 1500m (4min 56.46sec) and 3000m (11min 08.39sec).
He ran 29.93sec in the 200m but was beaten by Darcy Cheney (South Australia), who was clocked at 28.95sec.
Burr was a competitive athlete in Christchurch until the age of 22 when he retired to concentrate on his work.
He returned to the athletics ranks as a 40-year-old masters athlete with the Port Hills Club in Christchurch and has been successful as well as enjoying the sport.
"I love the fun and enthusiasm of the Masters Games," he said.
"I love the atmosphere of the village and the quality of the evening entertainment."
Another outstanding athlete in track and field was Keith Howden (Melbourne), who won four gold medals and a bronze medal in the men's aged 60 to 64 grade.
Howden (64) won gold in the 100m (13.01sec), 200m (26.86sec), 400m (65.91sec), long jump (4.54m) and was third in the shot put (9.17m).
Howden retired as a United Church minister four years ago and now works part-time as a basketball coach in Melbourne.
Before that, he was a banker for 20 years.
He has competed in athletics since the age of 50.
"I took it up to help my basketball and found that I was a very good sprinter," he said.
He trains with the younger sprinters at Essendon, the strongest athletics club in Melbourne.
He is a member of the sprint squad of coach Max Warlow.
"The young guys keep the older sprinters like myself honest," he said.
"It is good in the club because no-one worries about your job or your financial status."
Howden proved his ability at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Finland last August when he won a gold medal in the 100m, was second in the 200m and 400m and won a bronze medal in the 4x400m relay.
"But any medals I win are secondary to the fitness and enjoyment I get from the sport," he said.
He does sprint training three times a week, works out in the gymnasium twice a week and does Pilates once a week.
A feature of the athletics was the performance of the over 80-year-olds.
Southlander Alistair McKay (82) broke a New Zealand record in the high jump (1.08m) in the men's aged 80 to 84 grade.
He also won the 100m in 16.66sec and the long jump with 2.88m.
Bay of Plenty's Pauline Purser (87) won five gold medals in the women's 85 to 89 grade javelin (7.86m), discus (9.71m), shot put (3.75m), hammer throw (8.85m) and weight pentathlon (1173 points).
Former Empire Games medallist Shirley Peterson (Canterbury) won the 100m (20.57sec), long jump (2.40m), and triple jump (5.42m) in the women's aged 80 to 84 grade.
Former Empire Games bronze medallist Cliff Taylor (Auckland) won the 100m in 31.37sec in the 85 to 89 grade.
He is aged 86.
Mark Flaus broke a New Zealand record in the men's aged 50 to 55 hammer throw with 30.83m.
