Honorary doctorate next port of call

The man who grew the Port of Tauranga into New Zealand's largest export port and established the country's first inland port is to receive the University of Waikato's highest honour.
Jon Mayson, a seasoned mariner and business leader, will be awarded an honorary doctorate in Tauranga on September 14 at a black-tie dinner at Sebel Trinity Wharf.
Mr Mayson CNZM, former CEO of Port of Tauranga Ltd and Chair of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, will be recognised for his substantial contributions to the development of the Port of Tauranga and the wider business and arts communities.
The 65-year-old said he was "somewhat dumbfounded" when he received a letter in the post from the university, asking him to consider the award.
"It speaks volumes for the Bay of Plenty and all the people who have been with me on my voyage in life. I'm very humbled," he said. "It's great for Tauranga."
University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford said through Mr Mayson's work at the Port of Tauranga and elsewhere he had displayed a "tireless commitment to social justice and business innovation and an inclusive leadership style".
Mr Mayson went to sea at the age of 16, against his parents' wishes. He spent almost 26 years afloat, first in the Merchant Navy, where he qualified as a master mariner, and then as Tugmaster and Pilot in the Port of Tauranga.
Moving into operational management roles at the Port, he was ultimately appointed to chief executive in 1997, a role he held until the end of 2005.
Under his leadership, the Port of Tauranga grew to be New Zealand's largest export port and established its MetroPort operation in Auckland, the country's first inland port. It was an early adopter of "triple bottom line" reporting - demonstrating the company's social, environmental and economic sustainability - and became a member of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development.
In 1996, he achieved his childhood dream of going to sea in a square rig ship and navigated the Endeavour replica to Australia.
Mr Mayson was honoured for his services to the shipping industry and to the export sector in 2006 when he was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM).
A past president of Export New Zealand, he currently chairs the boards of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, TKC Holdings Ltd, C3 Ltd, Ziwipeak Ltd, Trevelyan Pack and Cool Ltd and Legacy Funerals Ltd. He is a member of the Institute of Directors and an NZIM Fellow.
Outside the business sphere, Mr Mayson has been actively involved in supporting the arts in Tauranga. He was also behind the successful bid for Tauranga to host the Around Alone single-handed round-the-world yacht race in 2003.