A colourful memorial to the life of New Zealand’s longest serving female mayor will be officially opened later this month.

Commemorating the life and achievements of the late Frana Cardno, three totems have been erected in the former Fergus Square, which has been renamed Cardno Reserve. 

Southland Mayor Gary Tong will host an official opening ceremony at 2.30pm on Friday, 16 April, 2021.

"This is a stunning tribute to Frana which captures her love of art, colour and nature," Tong says.

"Frana’s commitment to her community and our district was unwavering and it’s fantastic to honour her in this way." 

Frana Cardno CNZM QSO JP served as Mayor of Southland District from 1992 until 2013, becoming the longest-serving female mayor in New Zealand's history. She died on 23 April 2015, and her long-time friend, Irene Barnes, suggested a memorial in her hometown.

Mayor Tong, who succeeded Mrs Cardno, paid for the memorial from his mayoral budget, Southland District Council graphic designer Donna Hawkins created the design, and the council agreed to rename Fergus Square. 

The project has been a collaborative effort by SDC staff together with the Cardno family and friends. 

The glass domes on top of the totems were designed by Macaela Hawkins and created by Escape Glass in Invercargill. Creations Signs was involved in the construction.

The wood for the seats came from her husband Murray’s man shed and was donated by their son Paul, while the totems feature a special collection of photos from Barry Harcourt, a close family friend.

Te Anau prompted Mrs Cardno’s first foray into politics when she lobbed for a library in the town. It sparked a 35-year contribution that initially included 11 years on the Te Anau Community Board.

Committed to serving her community, she devoted her time to a variety of local organisations including Community Trust South, Venture Southland, the Regional Identity Southland Trust and the Women's Refuge Trust; and was presented with the Rotary Jean Harris Award for Otago-Southland for Leadership for Women.

In 2001, Mrs Cardno was awarded a Queen’s Service Order for public services and a United Nations Certificate of Recognition to recognise her as an outstanding woman in local government.

She received the Local Government New Zealand Excellence Award for outstanding contribution to local government and was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to local government in the 2014 New Year honours.