Obituary: Laurence Stevens

Sir Laurence Stevens, CBE, KB; manufacturing executive, company director. Died aged 86.

Sir Laurence Stevens was regarded for many years as the elder statesman of New Zealand manufacturing.

As president of the New Zealand Manufacturers Federation in the early 1970s and 1980s - years of high inflation - he railed against the governments of the day for their anti-inflationary measures, viewing them as a hindrance to improvement in the manufacturing sector.

The way back to a "growth path" was, he felt, through a new system then fashionably described as "restructuring", which would reduce costs and improve companies' bottom lines.

He thought that the introduction of microprocessors would be as productive in employment terms as other changes in industrial history, and that staff reductions because of the new technology would be more than compensated for by new computer jobs.

Stevens said migration of New Zealanders to Australia needed to be reversed. He believed that many of them would like to come home if they could, and should be helped financially to do so. Everyone in Australia should be made aware of our advantages.

"If it's good enough for them to fish in our pool, " he said, "I think we can go and fish in theirs."

In 1981, Stevens said that New Zealand should be encouraging migrants who had money - "say $30,000 per head". He felt this would bring a net gain to the economy, but his ideas were dashed by the Minister for Immigration, Aussie Malcolm, who thought skills were more important.

Greater co-operation between New Zealand and Australia was vital, Stevens believed. He took part in free trade talks between the countries, and played a leading role in the Closer Economic Relations (CER) agreement.

Stevens' career in manufacturing began after World War II, when he returned from service overseas to take up the position of secretary of Auckland Knitting Mills. He later became manager and then managing director.

As well as his involvement with industry, Stevens served on the boards of a number of well-known entities, including Lane Walker Rudkin, Wormald, Guardian Royal Exchange, the Reserve Bank, Thorn EMI, Fay Richwhite and Capital Markets.

He joined the board of Auckland International Airport Ltd in 1988 and became chairman, retiring in 1998.

He was a member of the Melanesian Trust Board and chaired the Auckland Agricultural, Pastoral and Industrial Shows Board.

A representative tennis player at Auckland University, he was a member of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association, and president in 1983-84.

He is survived by his wife, Beryl, son Lynton, daughters Hilary and Ann, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.