John La Roche graduated from the University of Auckland’s School of Engineering in 1961 and worked in Hamilton City Council’s Design Office before spending two years with Ove Arup & Partners in London.
On his return to New Zealand in 1964, John worked for Worley Downer Muir and began his lengthy career in water treatment, eventually ending up with Auckland Regional Council in charge of design work at the drinking water treatment plants.
John was made a Fellow of IPENZ in 2002 and became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2003. He was a Board Member of the IPENZ Engineering Heritage Board and an IPENZ Ethics Advisor.
He is especially proud of his involvement with Water for Survival which he established in 1988. Water for Survival provided funding for low technology water supply and sanitation projects in Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Pacific.
Access
This oral history is held at the Alexander Turnbull Library OHInt-0965-25
Date of Interview: 2021
