Estate Donates Money To New Business School

Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate Donates Money To New Business School

The University of Auckland has received $200,000 from the estate of Auckland’s founding father towards the building of a world-class Business School.

Trustees of the Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate have gifted the money to the Business School in return for naming rights to what will be the Sir John Logan Campbell Boardroom.

Dean of the Business School, Professor Barry Spicer, welcomed the Trustees’ generous gift.

“This is a significant financial and symbolic contribution to our plans to develop a world class business school in Auckland. I see the support of the Estate as a bridge between past and future commercial glories of Auckland and New Zealand.”

Chairman of the Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate, Dr Lindo Ferguson CBE, said the donation fitted well with Sir John’s legacy.

“Sir John Logan Campbell was one of Auckland pioneer merchants. Not only was he a highly successful businessman, he also maintained a strong commitment to the community throughout his life, and after his death through the endowments made by his estate.

“The trustees recognise the importance of the Business School to The University of Auckland and the wider community. New Zealand as a small trading nation needs strong business leadership, and we see the Business School as having a key role in nurturing that leadership talent.”

Already highly regarded in Australasia, the Business School is now intent on transforming itself into an internationally eminent school. It will have a special focus on the basic disciplines of business and economics, and in programmes addressing enterprise creation and growth in rapidly changing and complex business environments.

Money is being raised to construct a purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility, attract and retain quality staff, and support research activities, course and programme development.

“The support of the local business community will be crucial to the School’s success,” said Professor Spicer.

Professor Spicer said The University has now received commitments for about half the private sector funding it requires to take full advantage of the Government’s funding offer. The Government is prepared to match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $25 million.

The Estate is one of only two donors to assent to be publicly named at this stage. The other is American businessman Paul K Kelly, whose gift of $3.5 million was announced in July.

Discussions with other private sector donors are well advanced.

Dr Ferguson said the decision to establish the Sir John Logan Campbell Boardroom was highly appropriate.

“The Boardroom will be at the heart of the Business School, and also of Auckland’s commercial life as was Sir John.”

The Boardroom will feature relevant portraiture, information and memorabilia associated with Sir John. His legacy will also be part of a display the Business School is preparing for its main building to recognise and celebrate the corporate history of Auckland and New Zealand.

Sir John (1817-1912) was one of the first European settlers to arrive in Auckland and was known as “The Father of Auckland.” He gifted Cornwall Park to the people of New Zealand in 1901 and is buried on the summit of One Tree Hill.

He was founder and the first Secretary of the Auckland Savings Bank and co-founder of brewing company, Campbell and Ehrenfried - the forerunner of modern day brewing multinational Lion Nathan.

As an old man, Sir John estimated that he had, at one time or another, served as a trustee, chairman or director of more than 40 public bodies in Auckland.

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