Murray Mander - 1924-2023
Murray Mander – 1924-2023
By Miles Mander
Murray Mander, a Life Member of the PINZ & NZIV, died aged 98 years on 3 January 2023 at Tauranga Hospital following a fall and a period of ill health.
Murray was born 11/11/24 in New Plymouth where he grew up and attended New Plymouth Boys Highschool and played for the 1st XV.
He was among the second intake of the Government’s Rural Field Cadet Scheme in 1942 which included a period of practical farming and shepherding. After serving overseas in the Navy during WW11, he graduated from Lincoln College with the Diploma of Valuation & Farm Management (VFM) in 1948 achieving the gold medal for highest aggregate marks.
On graduation he worked briefly for the Maori Affairs Department in Hasting before transferring to the Valuation Department where he spent the majority of his working life. Registered as a valuer in 1951 he worked initially in New Plymouth then as Senior Rural Valuer (Rural) in Auckland and Rotorua before becoming District Valuer (Rural) Rotorua in 1956, Supervising Valuer in Palmerston North 1964 and moved to Wellington Head Office in 1968 on appointment as Chief Valuers (Rural). He was appointed Deputy Valuer General 1973 and then Valuer General and Chairman of the Registration Board early 1975. Murray retired from the Valuation Department late 1984 and moved to Tauranga where he continued to work for 8 years as a Registered Valuer for Jones, Tierney & Green including undertaking an assignment for the World Bank in Indonesia in 1986.
Throughout his carrier he always strove for the highest standards of Professionalism and in his early carrier became well known as a capable expert witness. In later years his expertise and knowledge of valuation attracted interest overseas and he presented papers and participated in a number of international conferences while also hosting overseas valuers in New Zealand.
Prior to his appointment as Valuer General Murray held various positions with NZIV. He acted as an examiner in rural valuation, served as chairman of the Board of Examiners, the Valuer Generals representative to the council and as a member of the Executive committee.
Murray was made a Fellow of the Institute in 1973 and following his retirement from the department a Life Member in 1985. He was also in 1985 awarded the Queen Service Order (QSO) for Public Service and Services to Valuation.
Murray career spanned considerable change from being among the first rural valuers with specific academic qualification in New Zealand to being a strong advocate for the computerisation of valuation systems. Brayan Gilling’s book Government Valuers the History of Valuation New Zealand described him, quote as - “a fairly dominant and persistent charter who had a presence about him that carried the day with staff. Everyone had a lot of respect for Murray Mander”
In private life Murray was a keen and accomplished golfer, trout fisherman and gardener. Murray is survived by his wife Joan of 72 years, sons Miles and Cameron and daughter Louise. 7 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
