The firm merged in 1979 with Gilfillan Morris and Co. In 1983, restrictions enforced by the New Zealand Accountants Society were removed and Gilfillan Morris and Co was able to formally align itself internationally with New York-based practice Peat Marwick Mitchell and Co and took the Peat Marwick name. Four years later, Peat Marwick Mitchell and Co merged with European firm Klynveld Main Goerdeler to become KPMG Peat Marwick, which in 1996 was abbreviated to KPMG.
Retired KPMG partner David Cooke, who still does trust work, noted that Mr Craig had been the driving force in taking a medium-sized provincial firm into national and then international alliances.
"Ernie was always forward looking," said Mr Cooke, who is married to Mr Craig's daughter Suzie.
"He had an exceptional ability to develop strategic alliances with people in the Bay of Plenty and in the rest of New Zealand and beyond. He was very good at securing larger clients and that initiated our audit practice in Tauranga. The Tauranga practice would not have been part of an national or international firm without him."
Under his leadership the firm gained an NZX country member trading licence and commenced sharebroking, a business which eventually ended up as part of what is now Craigs Investment Partners.
The firm was also a pioneer in embracing computing, designing an accounting package, with the data tape flown to Wellington for processing on the last flight of the day and the printouts returned on the first flight the next morning. It then installed its own computer in the early 1980s - a first for accounting firms in New Zealand, according to KPMG Tauranga.
Mr Craig had a long association with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, first becoming a member in 1946 and reaching the milestone of 70 years membership last year, where he received an award for his contribution to the profession.
He spent many years representing the Waikato Bay of Plenty region on the NZ Society of Accountants, where he served as treasurer, vice-president and then president for two years. He remains the only Tauranga member to be president of the society.
"He was a real leader of the profession and helped to lead change," said KPMG Tauranga managing partner Glenn Keaney. "Ernie was quite a remarkable man and was so very humble - he was very proud of the firm and always paid a close interest in how it was progressing."
Mr Craig received a Tauranga City Community Spirit award in 2001.
On a personal note, Mr Cooke noted that he was hands-on round the home, building a family runabout and home swimming pool, and painting the first house bought by his daughter and son-in-law.
"He was tremendously loyal to his people and clients and had a strong continuing interest in the firm's progress long after his retirement. He was highly respected and the condolence letters frequently remember him as a gentleman."
Mr Craig is survived by his daughters Suzie, Jacqui and Trish and son Robert, 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Ernie Craig - business and community contributions
·12 years as director of the NZ Dairy Board (Fonterra's predecessor).
·8 years as a director of Quayside Group, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council investment group and 55% owner of Port of Tauranga.
·10 years as a director of Port of Tauranga.
·50 years - 25 as chairman - of the Tauranga Racecourse reserve - the home of Bay of Plenty Racing Club and Tauranga Golf Club.
·A member of the NZ Amputees Society
·A Life Member of the Tauranga Club (with membership No 1), the Tauranga Golf Club, and the Bay of Plenty Racing Club.
