Roy McKenzie
Encyclopedia
Sir Roy Allan McKenzie ONZ
KBE
(7 November 1922 – 1 September 2007) was a New Zealand
horse breeder and racer, and was well known for his philanthropy.
McKenzie was the son of Sir John McKenzie, who founded the McKenzies retail chain. He was born in Wellington
but went to school at Timaru Boys' High School
and attended the University of Otago
. During World War II
he served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force
and the Royal Air Force
as a bomb aimer. He married Shirley Howard in 1948, and they had three children together. He was captain of the New Zealand ski team
in the 1952 Winter Olympics
; the first Winter Olympics that New Zealand entered.
He worked as a chartered accountant after the war, and was the Executive Director of McKenzies (NZ) Ltd from 1949 - 1970. He also served as a director for several other companies.
From 1955 he was the principal at the Roydon Lodge horse stud, and he bred, trained and raced many leading horses.
From 1947 to 1993, McKenzie was on the Board of the J R McKenzie Trust, which had been established by his father in 1940 to distribute a proportion of the profits from his businesses for the benefit of the people of New Zealand. For 23 years, McKenzie chaired the Trust. He set up two other grant-making bodies: the McKenzie Education Foundation and the Roy McKenzie Foundation.
McKenzie was also patron of the Outward Bound
Trust, and a councillor at the Council for Educational Research. In 1978 McKenzie helped found New Zealand's first hospice
, Te Omanga. In 1990 he played a major role in setting up Philanthropy New Zealand, which was a regular meeting of charitable groups in New Zealand.
Sir Roy was knighted in 1989 for services to the community. He became a member of the Order of New Zealand
, and Victoria University
and Massey University
bestowed honorary doctorates upon him.
A film about his life, Giving It All Away, was made in 2004 and screened at the 2005 SXSW Film Festival.
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(7 November 1922 – 1 September 2007) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
horse breeder and racer, and was well known for his philanthropy.
McKenzie was the son of Sir John McKenzie, who founded the McKenzies retail chain. He was born in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
but went to school at Timaru Boys' High School
Timaru Boys' High School
Timaru Boys' High School , established in 1880, is a single sex state secondary school located in the port city of Timaru, South Canterbury, New Zealand. TBHS caters for years 9 - 13 ....
and attended the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
and the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as a bomb aimer. He married Shirley Howard in 1948, and they had three children together. He was captain of the New Zealand ski team
New Zealand at the 1952 Winter Olympics
New Zealand competed at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway. It was the first time that the nation had competed at the Winter Olympic Games. The country was represented by its skiing team, captained by Sir Roy McKenzie...
in the 1952 Winter Olympics
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
; the first Winter Olympics that New Zealand entered.
He worked as a chartered accountant after the war, and was the Executive Director of McKenzies (NZ) Ltd from 1949 - 1970. He also served as a director for several other companies.
From 1955 he was the principal at the Roydon Lodge horse stud, and he bred, trained and raced many leading horses.
From 1947 to 1993, McKenzie was on the Board of the J R McKenzie Trust, which had been established by his father in 1940 to distribute a proportion of the profits from his businesses for the benefit of the people of New Zealand. For 23 years, McKenzie chaired the Trust. He set up two other grant-making bodies: the McKenzie Education Foundation and the Roy McKenzie Foundation.
McKenzie was also patron of the Outward Bound
Outward Bound
Outward Bound is an international, non-profit, independent, outdoor educationorganization with approximately 40 schools around the world and 200,000 participants per year...
Trust, and a councillor at the Council for Educational Research. In 1978 McKenzie helped found New Zealand's first hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
, Te Omanga. In 1990 he played a major role in setting up Philanthropy New Zealand, which was a regular meeting of charitable groups in New Zealand.
Sir Roy was knighted in 1989 for services to the community. He became a member of the Order of New Zealand
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
, and Victoria University
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
and Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
bestowed honorary doctorates upon him.
A film about his life, Giving It All Away, was made in 2004 and screened at the 2005 SXSW Film Festival.
Publications
- The Roydon Heritage. 1978. The Roydon Lodge horse stud.
- Footprints - Harnessing an Inheritance into a Legacy. 1998. ISBN 0958204608. Memoirs.