Shirley and Ron Christie of Cumbrae Place in Aramoho are understandably proud of their son, Graeme, who has joined the ranks of some of the most eminent lawyers in the world with an invitation to become a fellow of the International Academy of Construction Lawyers (IACL).
The one-time Aramoho School student is a partner in the commercial litigation group Simpson Grierson and has worked on some of the biggest landmark cases in New Zealand and overseas.
He represented Rolls-Royce New Zealand in the litigation concerning the Kinleith co-generation project - New Zealand's largest construction case.
Mr Christie is also a solicitor of England and Wales, a founding council member of the New Zealand Society of Construction Law, a member and seminar commentator of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand, as well as being a former lecturer in School of Architecture and Planning and guest lecturer in Faculty of Engineering at the University of Auckland.
Mr Christie's parents say he was a keen soccer player as a boy and has jokingly accused dad Ron, who was the Aramoho team coach, of thwarting his dream of becoming a professional player.