Prominent Wellington sports administrator and promoter Ian Wells died on Saturday.
Cricket historian Don Neely said Mr Wells helped raise the profile of many sports in Wellington, such as tennis, cricket and football, for more than 40 years.
Mr Neely said Mr Wells was partly responsible for such innovative promotions as a game of tennis in the middle of a Wellington street involving Hollywood actor Charlton Heston and Olympic athlete Peter Snell, and he also had a hand in creating the Phoenix football team.
His company came up with the 'Absolutely Positively Wellington' slogan that has endured for more than a decade.
Mr Wells was formerly head of New Zealand Tennis and Cricket Wellington chair.
