David Kear:
standing, far right
1939 1st XV
DR David Kear CMG FRSNZ 1923-2019
David Kear, who died in March in Auckland, New Zealand, was a
highly respected figure in the New Zealand scientific community.
He made a major contribution to the knowledge and utilisation of
New Zealand’s natural resources.
David attended Sevenoaks School (Hardinge) from 1934 to 1941.
He excelled in sport and was appointed Captain of the School.
He was also president of the local WW2 youth group, The Oaks,
supporting the local war effort. He did well academically and was
awarded a scholarship to Imperial College, where he completed
degrees in Mining Engineering and Geology. After serving in the
Pacific with the Royal Navy, he returned to Imperial, and became
engaged to fellow student Joan Bridges. They married in 1948 and
honeymooned on the sea voyage to New Zealand, where David
took up a job with the New Zealand Geological Survey.
There was a major post-war energy shortage in New Zealand, and
David was charged with investigating coalfields across the country.
So began a highly productive scientific period during which he
produced many reports, maps and publications.
In 1958, now in Auckland, he surveyed mineral resources
throughout the North Island, including identifying the ironsand
deposit that formed the basis for New Zealand’s steel industry.
He also completed an external PhD from the University of London.
In 1965, David was appointed New Zealand’s Chief Economic
Geologist, and the family moved to Wellington. Two years later, he
became Director of the Geological Survey and, in 1973, was elected
a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
In 1974, he was appointed Assistant Director General of the
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and, in 1980,
became Director General, responsible for a large, diverse scientific
organisation. He played a major role in the development of projects
responding to the energy crises in the 1970s and 1980s, including
the formation of the state-owned petroleum exploration company.
He retired in 1983 and was appointed a Companion of the Order of
St Michael and St George (CMG). He and Joan retired to Ohope, on
the east coast of the North Island, and lived there for three decades.
David worked as a consultant, including in several UN roles. He
wrote booklets on local geology and completed a substantial
genealogy of the Kear family.
He was bid farewell in both Auckland and Ohope by family,
colleagues and friends, who recalled him as a true gentleman.
He leaves three children, seven grandchildren and five great-
grandchildren.
Provided by his children
“During the Battle of Britain, when the Kent airfields were a real target,
students dug trenches for air raid shelters. Lest the precious fruit rot
on the trees, the government paid us thruppence ha’penny an hour to
pick it. We filled bottles with petrol and oil; Molotov Cocktails to hurl
at enemy tanks should the worst happen. And to formalise our efforts,
we formed a youth group dubbed The Oaks, which raised teams
of bicycle messengers, manned local council offices at night, and
sounded the air raid sirens.”
David Kear
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2018-2019
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