At the time, I was a Partner in the accounting firm later known as KPMG and took on the responsibility of establishing the upcoming Games organizational structure and terms of reference. Once we won the vote, we became a study group and were meant to return to Christchurch as experts on the Games. I took on the concept planning for the NZ Opening & Closing Ceremonies, effectively becoming the Artistic Director on the side. At the same time, I held the title of Vice-Chairman of the Organizing Committee and acting Director of Organization for about a year and a half until a fulltime appointment was made, all while working full time in the accounting partnership.
Reflecting back, upon returning from Edinburgh, we sought the best person in Christchurch to Chair the Committee and then formed a small Executive Committee which met every Friday lunch hour to sort problems out, ensuring the actual monthly meetings of the Organizing Committee went smoothly. There were a lot of things we had to set in motion, such as encouraging the Government to bring forward coloured television for the Games, to ensuring we would have sufficient pigeons for the Opening Ceremony. Despite being 20 to 30 years younger than others involved, I helped brainstorm some of these issues, including how the Opening Ceremony would operate in a New Zealand context.
Over the years you have held a number of different roles, including Chef de Mission to three Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams, while also taking over Chairmanship of the Organising Committee for the struggling 1975 NZ Himalayan Expedition. What inspired you to take up these roles?
The NZ 1975 Himalayan Expedition to climb Mount Jannu (technically one of the most difficult mountains in the Himalayas), came out of left field. After being authorised by the Nepalese Government, a client of mine who was friendly with Sir Edmund Hillary, made a special trip to Christchurch to ask me to take over as Chairman of the Organising Committee. I agreed to take on the position and had to find innovative ways to raise funds.
After the Commonwealth Games I resigned from my accounting partnership to set up my own consultancy, focusing more on business mentoring rather than pure accounting and auditing. I had also been appointed to the Board of NZ Gymnastics, who brought their administration to Christchurch. A year later, they appointed me as their delegate to the NZ Olympic Committee, a position I held for the next 20 years.
The Chef de Mission role arose after the 1981 Springbok rugby tour when New Zealand was expected to come under a great deal of pressure at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games. From a strong field of candidates (including the future Vice Chancellor of Oxford University), I believe I was selected as a safe pair of hands, as I knew most of the delegates from Africa, Asia etc. from the 1974 Games in Christchurch.
You have spent many years fostering trade and investment relationships between New Zealand and other countries – especially China. What fuelled your passion for international business and trade, and how did you get into this?
I like the cut and thrust of business. After the UK joined the European Economic Community (EEC) New Zealand was on its own, so the Government encouraged exporters and businessmen to go out and seek new markets. I had been a Board member of the Gansu/Christchurch Sister City Committee for a number of years, and after the disappointment of the New Zealand Government declining to support a bid for the Winter Olympics (which I had to finance predominately myself), I had the thought to visit China. In November 1998 I went to the city of Shenyang in Northeast China. Eleven months later, the Shenyang Government built and financed a huge monument to commemorate the links I had established between Canterbury and Shenyang. After the Seoul Olympics, the New Zealand Government asked me to undertake a lecture tour of Korean Universities to promote New Zealand as a place of study. For the next 20 years, I was actively promoting New Zealand education in offshore markets.
Your relationship with UC runs deep – tell us about your active involvement with UC over the years.
It does indeed and has been continuous since 1957. While working full time in the accounting partnership, I started studying part-time towards my BCom in 1957, getting my professional qualifications and completing a subject per year. I decided to play rugby for UC and made many friendships, particularly with the engineers, who nominated me to stand in 1961 as UCSA Treasurer and the following year as Student President. If I accepted their initiative, they would vote en bloc for me! I was also on UC sporting club committees/ UC Blues etc.
After my term expired the Vice Chancellor wanted me to Chair a high-powered committee of professors and senior alumni to establish a UC Graduates Association and the first Mixed-Chartered Club in New Zealand, with leased premises in the central city. We opened with around 800 members and financed the club with debentures from members. In around 1968 I resigned to become a member of the bid committee for the hosting rights of the 1974 Commonwealth Games. I was also nominated for the University Council but missed out, however, I was nominated again in 1970 and topped the poll.
At the back of my book, you will see a CV of some of the roles I have played, and simultaneously, my involvement with Massey University. After 21 years as a UC Council Member, I was elected to Massey’s Council from 2006 to 2015, spending a total of 30 years between the two (which I understand is a New Zealand record). Jeff Field always took the view that I was on loan from UC. I ran a workshop for about 10 years for the MEM students, was on the Board of CU Press for 10 years, was President of the UC Alumni Association from 1995-1998, and then Chaired the 125th UC Anniversary Celebrations (at first, against the wishes of the Vice Chancellor at the time, who subsequently came on board). More recently I have acted as a mentor at the UC Centre for Entrepreneurship.
Check out Bruce Ullrich, one of our Sporting Legends profiles in our 150th Alumni Showcase here.
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