Maxie lived life off the grid in South Westland but tragically died in his isolated Karangarua property, southwest of Fox Glacier in a fire, He lived in a shed with his dogs and was a colourful local icon, often compared with the infamous writer and bushman Barry Crump. Described as a "hard man" he lived in the shed he worked in, making wooden furniture, and his local knowledge was "second to none and better than any encyclopaedia ... often having a funny story or joke to tell .."

source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/70351951/west-coast-fire-victim-a-bit-like-barry-crump.html
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