Interview with Laurie Kemble

Interview with Laurie (Laurence Bruce) Kemble, born Hamilton, 4 January 1943. Mentions his father Alfred Ashley worked for New Zealand Railways, rising from porter to Frankton yard foreman, while his mother Sybil Caroline (Cadman) was very much a homemaker who encouraged her children in all their endeavours. Refers to his mother's hospitalisation with TB. Discusses sports he has played, beach holidays, and the freedom children had then. Comments on his schooling, and initially wanting to be a carpenter when he left school. Refers to studying accountancy at night school. Describes marrying Mary Chlotilde Laurensen in 1965 and gives details of their children.

Outlines his early career as an accounts clerk until he began working as an assistant auditor at the Audit Department, Hamilton. Comments on the work done and describes the office culture, the all-male staff, and on the job training. Describes the auditor's job being to certify that the accounts are materially correct. Refers to women first being employed in Audit in the 1970s and outnumbering male staff by the time he retired. Mentions becoming a district auditor (team leader) in Hamilton in 1969, sole district auditor in Tauranga in 1976, and later Regional Director (Midland). Mentions audits he has done in Pacific island countries and New Zealand embassies overseas. Discusses restructuring of the Audit Department under Jeff Chapman, with Gary Poole becoming head of Audit New Zealand, the 'working arm' of the office. Refers to the change of mindset needed when district offices had to tender for audits. Comments on Auditors-General Fred Shailes, Brian Tyler, Jeff Chapman, David Macdonald and Kevin Brady. Mentions that the most striking recent changes are the new technology and the way audits are now done.

Interviewer(s) - Susan Fowke

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-015396, OHC-015397, OHC-015398

Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 2.20 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5581.

Colour portrait of Laurie and Mary Kemble, ca.2000; b&w photocopy of a portrait of Laurie as a younger man.

Search dates: 1943 - 1966 - 2006 - 2002

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.