Celebrated Scientist Gordon Lauder Remembered for Pioneering Work

The scientific community mourns the passing of Gordon Lauder, a distinguished researcher whose pioneering work spanned from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Lauder, who died on November 6, 2025, just shy of his 95th birthday, made significant contributions to understanding the Earth’s atmosphere and crust over a career that lasted several decades. His legacy includes over 60 scientific publications and a profound impact on atmospheric research.

Early Life and Career

Born in New Zealand, Lauder attended Mt Albert Grammar and spent a year at the University of Auckland before embarking on a diverse scientific career. His work took him to various tropical regions, including Brisbane, Darwin, Rarotonga, and Samoa. It was during his time in Rarotonga that he met Rima, who would become his wife for 65 years. Together, they raised three children: John, Christina, and Geoffrey.

In 1963, Lauder began his tenure at the DSIR Auroral Station, which was then a collection of wooden huts on a hillside. His notable Antarctic research commenced in 1967, focusing on solar radiation interactions with the atmosphere, crucial for navigation and communication technologies at the time. His later research contributed to the understanding of the Antarctic ozone hole, a significant environmental concern.

Acknowledgements and Contributions

Lauder’s contributions to science did not go unnoticed. In 1994, he was invited to present New Zealand’s role in Antarctic atmospheric research during a discussion with Prince Charles at the Antarctic Centre in Christchurch. He received the Royal Society of New Zealand’s Science and Technology Silver Medal in 1995 and, in 2001, the New Zealand Geographical Board named Keys Hill near Scott Base in his honour.

Lauder served as president of the New Zealand Institute of Physics in the mid-1980s and earned a Master of Science in Physics with distinction from the University of Otago in 1993. After retiring from Lauder in 1999, he continued to engage with scientific endeavours and shared his experiences in his book, Stranded in Paradise, published in 2016. The book recounts his adventure in Rarotonga where he and a friend salvaged propeller blades from the wreck of the RMS Maitai, which sank nearly a century earlier.

Alongside his scientific achievements, Lauder was known for his community involvement. He directed musical performances with the Omakau Musical Society and was active in the local Art Society and the Rotary Club of Alexandra for over 30 years, including terms as president. A talented musician, he hosted many evenings filled with music, often playing the piano and accordion.

Lauder maintained an active lifestyle well into his 90s, continuing to play tennis and playing a key role in establishing a recreational facility for tennis and hockey in 2011 alongside the newly built Central Stories. His contributions to both science and community life leave a lasting legacy.

He is survived by his daughter Christina Parker, his son Geoffrey, and his grandchildren, including John and Camille. He will be remembered fondly by all who knew him, especially his late wife Rima, who passed away three years prior, and their son John, who died in his early 20s.