Arthur Geoffrey Stewart 1940 - 2021
It is with deep regret that the New Zealand Institute of Valuers and the Property Institute of New Zealand marks the passing of Arthur Geoffrey Stewart.
Arthur died peacefully surrounded by his family on 24 October 2021 after a short illness.
Arthur was a registered valuer, a Fellow of both the NZIV and PINZ. He graduated from Auckland University in 1961 with a Diploma in Urban Valuation and in 1966 completed graduated from Victoria University with a Bachelor of Commerce. He obtained registration and Associate membership status with the NZIV in 1965 and was elevated to a Fellow of the Institute in 1986.
Born in Dunedin he completed his secondary schooling at Auckland Grammar and upon leaving school he commenced an urban field cadetship initially with the Ministry of Works and then with the Government Valuation Department.
Upon leaving the Department, Arthur spent ten years with S. George Nathan & Co in Wellington as a valuer and when he resigned in 1973 he was also managing their commercial real estate division. He left to set up practice as an independent valuer, practicing in Wellington and after several mergers his practice developed into the national practice of Darroch & Co where at his retirement he was senior partner and chairman of the group.
Arthur served the Institute of Valuers as an examiner and as a member of the Education and New Technology Committees. For six years he was a Government appointee to the Valuers Registration Board.
He has also participated on numerous occasions as a speaker at seminars and wrote a number of articles for The New Zealand Valuer and other professional journals. One article was particularly controversial at the time, written around 1970 it mocked the use of depth tables by valuers and argued for the use of market related per square metre rates, now very much the norm.
Arthur’s professional standing and his technical competence in the field of valuation was without peer as his frequent engagement by barrister’s and QC’s would attest.
Arthur was also widely known in yachting circles having represented New Zealand five times between 1977 and 1989 competing internationally in many major offshore keelboat races which included five Sydney to Hobart races. He also competed in two Clipper/Kenwood Cup series in Hawaii. The Big Boat Series and World One Ton Cup in San Francisco and one Admiral Cup series in Cowes (the pinnacle of yachting). He was also a Commodore, President, and life member of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club and as a crew member of the yacht, Pacific Sundance included as Wellington Sportsman of the year in 1983.
He will be sorely missed by all members of the Property Industry, and by his former colleagues and friends.
Arthur is survived by Dianne, his wife of 55 years, children Fiona, Megan and Craig, son in law Mike, daughter in law Chiara and grandchildren Hannah, Oliver and Lorenzo.
The Institute’s extend their deepest sympathy to Arthur’s family for their very sad loss.
