PHOTO: Prominent Christchurch businessman and mover and shaker Stephen Collins, who died on Thursday night.
Christchurch business leaders are praising high-profile Christchurch property developer Stephen Collins for his passion in the city, his vision and drive.
Collins, who died on Thursday night, worked in real estate for most of his life, establishing Collins Real Estate in 1972.
It amalgamated with Harcourts in 1985, and Collins was made chief executive.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said Collins had energy aplenty to make the city a better place.
“It is impossible to measure the significance of the contribution Stephen Collins made to this city. He was always a passionate advocate for Christchurch and all of the charities he supported as well.
“Stephen of course was a very astute businessman and never once did he lose his drive to ensure our city was the best it could be.”
A low point in his career was the February 22, 2011 earthquake, which caused the collapse of a building he had bought only two years earlier, PGC House, killing 18 people.
Collins said there was an initial “temptation to cut and run”, but in 2013 he announced he was determined to stay and rebuild.
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