Edmund Percy Bunny facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edmund Percy Bunny
3rd Mayor of Lower Hutt
In office 6 May 1909 – 7 May 1914
Preceded by	Thomas Peterkin
Succeeded by	Henry Baldwin
In office 5 March 1900 – 24 April 1901
Preceded by	Walter George Foster
Succeeded by	Orton Stevens
Personal details
Born	1863/1864 Wellington, New Zealand
Died	8 April 1941 Wellington, New Zealand
Relations	Henry Bunny (father)
Children	4
Profession	Lawyer

Edmund Percy Bunny (born around 1864 – died 8 April 1941) was an important New Zealand politician. He served as the Mayor of Lower Hutt on two occasions. He was also a lawyer and helped protect the Hutt River.

Edmund Percy Bunny's Life and Work

Early Life and Education

Edmund Percy Bunny was born in Wellington, New Zealand. His father, Henry Bunny, was also a well-known politician and administrator.

Edmund went to two different schools: Nelson College and Wellington College. After school, he studied at Canterbury University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there.

He loved sports, especially rugby. He played for his university team. He even took part in the first rugby match against the Otago University team. He kept his interest in rugby and other sports throughout his life.

Career as a Lawyer

After university, Edmund taught at Wellington College for a while. In 1889, he started working as a lawyer in Wellington. He was admitted to the bar, which means he became a barrister. A barrister is a lawyer who can argue cases in court.

He also became involved in protecting the Hutt River. He helped set up the Hutt River Board. This board was created to manage and protect the river.

Serving as Mayor of Lower Hutt

In 1898, Edmund Percy Bunny was elected to the Lower Hutt Borough Council. This council helped run the local town.

First Term as Mayor

In 1900, he became mayor of Lower Hutt. He was elected without anyone running against him. This happened after the previous mayor, Walter George Foster, resigned.

During his first year as mayor, he led efforts to rebuild the main bridge over the Hutt River. He also helped pass the first building rules and laws. These rules controlled how new buildings could be constructed in the town. He served for one year. Then, he was defeated by Orton Stevens in the next election.

Second Term as Mayor

Edmund was elected mayor again in 1909. The councils before him had spent a lot of money. They used it to improve things like roads and water systems. Because of this, the town ran out of money for new projects.

Edmund's new council had to make tough financial decisions. Almost all the members of the previous council had been voted out. His council had to cut costs. They also raised local taxes, called rates. They also borrowed a large loan of £10,000 to pay off debts. This helped the town get its finances back in order.

Later Life

Edmund Percy Bunny passed away in 1941. He was 77 years old. He was survived by his wife and three daughters. His son died during World War I.