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John O’Brien(right) with his son in Eire Sept 2006. Family Photo
to the economic downturn of the late 1980’s and was eventually dissolved by the partners.
John then set up as a home consultant, focusing on the supply of aggregates and industrial
minerals. He was largely responsible for the identification and development of important
new basalt resources in the Bombay Hills and North Auckland. An intensely practical
geologist, he was highly regarded for his pragmatic approach and complete integrity.
Notably, he provided consulting services without any hint of conflict of interest to the three
main aggregate suppliers in Auckland. He will be remembered by his industrial colleagues
for his unfailing pursuit of a means of understanding and predicting the demand for
aggregates, particularly in Auckland, which resulted in his appearance as an expert at
resource management hearings and the publication of several papers on the subject.
Throughout all this, other interests were maintained. On occasional trips back to NZ during
my 20 years overseas, I found that Second Lieutenant O’Brien (despite an intense dislike of
weaponry) had metamorphosed progressively into Lieutenant - Captain – Major – Colonel,
and eventually into Brigadier J.P. O’Brien commanding the NZ Territorial Force. Beyond
question, his prime motive as a military officer was that of “keeping-the-peace”. He was
appointed aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to New Zealand in 1995. But
undoubtedly, the driving forces behind his life were family and his Catholic faith. The
O’Brien family grew with the arrival first of John David, then the twins Daniel and Joanna -
the last, somewhat to her father’s surprise and delight, has taken up a career in geology.
To those who worked with him, be it in geology or in the military, John O’Brien was a
consummate professional, to others he was the greatest of friends, always good for a rousing
argument and with a fine disdain for academic clap-trap, stalwart in character and resolute in
his faith. He is and will continue to be greatly missed.
GSNZ Newsletter 143 (2007) Page 28