John Charles La Roche MNZM (born 2 April 1937) is a New Zealand engineer and author. As an engineer he specialised in design work for water treatment plants and in waste management.
John La Roche | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Charles La Roche 2 April 1937 |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Occupation | Engineer |
Biography
editLa Roche was born in Howick, New Zealand. After secondary education at Auckland Grammar School, he studied engineering at the University of Auckland, graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering in 1962.
Engineering career
editAfter graduation, La Roche worked in London for Ove Arup & Partners, later returning to New Zealand, working on Auckland engineering projects.[1] In 1968, he began working for water treatment company Paterson Candy International, working on plants in Hamilton and New Plymouth.[1] In 1975, La Roche began working at the Auckland Regional Authority, where he designed the region's water treatment plants.[1] La Roche worked in a variety of civil engineering roles related to water supply, particularly at Auckland Regional Authority where he was involved in major expansions of chemical handling equipment and the development of a greatly improved system for mixing flocculation chemicals with the water to be treated. He promoted the use of declining rate filtration as opposed to constant rate filtration as a means to provide additional flow capacity.[2] From 1988, and especially following his retirement in 1992, he and his wife Sue were heavily involved as voluntary administrators of Water for Survival,[3] a charity that provided safe drinking water and basic sanitation to 500,000 people in developing country village communities.[4]
Awards
editLa Roche was recognised as a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Auckland in 1999.[5] In 2018 La Roche was recognised for his contributions to the engineering heritage of Auckland with the Centennial Excellence in Engineering Heritage Award.[6] In the New Year Honours list, 2003, La Roche was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to engineering.[7]
Selected publications
editBooks authored
edit- Lucy Cranwell and John La Roche (2004). Hut and Headland. School of Biological Sciences, the University of Auckland.
- John La Roche, ed. (2011). Evolving Auckland: the city's engineering heritage. Wily Publications, Christchurch.
- John and Sue La Roche (2022). The Pourewa Valley Story. John La Roche.
References
edit- ^ a b c La Roche, John, ed. (2011). "Biographic Information About Writers". Evolving Auckland: The City's Engineering Heritage. Wily Publications. pp. 319–326. ISBN 9781927167038.
- ^ John La Roche, Increasing Water Treatment Capacity by Declining Rate Filtration, Transactions of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand: Civil Engineering Section, 16(2), 1989, 43-50.
- ^ "Water for all". Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Greg Adams, Making Technological Aid Work, e.nz, January/February 2001, 9-13, retrieved 17 September 2020
- ^ "Distinguished Alumni". Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "Engineering New Zealand Auckland Branch Centennial Awards". Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2003". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 15 September 2020.