He was born in Fort Sandeman, then India, now Pakistan, where his father served in the Indian Army. His parents, Alan and Dorothy Auret, had one other child, his brother.
At the age of four little John was sent to live in England with an aunt, and his mother would visit from time to time. His education was at Wellington College and the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy.
He left for India in 1935, to serve in the army. He was initially a major, but had a talent for languages and moved to the political service.
He spoke three Indian languages and was "a go-between" between Indians and the British. He took note of the dire poverty of many Indian people.
Mr Auret spent one leave in the Shetland Islands with family friends. He fell in love with Cynthia Mary and married her before returning to his military duties. It was to be a long and happy marriage.
After World War II he and Cynthia went to live in Kenya. That was where his parents had settled, and Cynthia had lungs too delicate for the English climate.
He bought a 165ha farm, grew cereals and raised cattle. He built a primary school on the property and employed a teacher to educate local people.
He and Cynthia had three daughters and one son, all born in Kenya. Mr Auret was just starting to grow coffee when the Mau Mau uprising began and it was too dangerous to stay in the country.
In the early 1960s the family chose to emigrate to New Zealand because it was politically stable and there were plenty of jobs. They knew no one here but didn't want to have to move again.
They had a choice to settle in Whangarei or Whanganui, and Wanganui Collegiate School headmaster Tom Wells offered Mr Auret a teaching job. He had no teaching qualifications and studied for 10 years, while working full-time, to get them.
He taught English and geography at Collegiate for eight years, then spent another eight years teaching at Wanganui Boys' College. He retired aged 65.
After finishing paid work he pursued other interests - photography, tramping, travel and gardening. He was a lively person and loved discussing the issues of the day.
His wife Cynthia died in 2011, and he spent his final two years at Broadview Rest Home & Hospital.