John Statham, New Zealand Accordion Association (NZAA) Past President (1982-2011) passed away peacefully on Wednesday 16th July 2025 after a long illness.

John Statham started the accordion at the age eight years old. He took lessons from Victor Johnson, Eddie McCullough, Peter Torckler and Allan Jones, who was considered the father of the accordion in New Zealand. This all culminated in him winning the New Zealand Solo Accordion Championship at the 1967 NZ Accordion Competitions.

He began to take a strong role in accordion activities, joining the committee of the newly formed New Zealand Accordion Association (NZAA) in 1971. His part in the organising committee for the 1980 Coupe Mondiale also included successfully breaking the World Marathon Accordion Record with 81 hours of playing, drawing much media attention to this event.

John Statham also compered the entire 1980 Coupe Mondiale and has compered almost every NZAA Competitions and many other accordion functions since then until his retirement as President in 2011.

John Statham also compered the 2009 Coupe Mondiale, that was held in Takapuna, which was also a huge success. That success was celebrated with a weekend celebration of 10th Anniversary of that event.

The accordion has also formed part of John’s life – as a professional entertainer, performing on national radio and recording an EP in 1985, and as a teacher. He has had the pleasure of seeing two of his students, Lance Lincoln and Judith Lincoln, become New Zealand Solo Accordion Champions.

In 1982 John was elected the President of the NZAA and has steered his hard working committee on a steady course during his 27 years in this position. John served on the Accordion Examination Board of New Zealand (AEBNZ) as NZAA representatitve since its inception until 2019.

There will be a farewell for John next Friday 25th July 2025 at 11am at Forrest Funeral Services, Riverside Road, Orewa.

Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) Honored Friend of the Accordion Award for John Statham