Peter Grayburn

Peter Watson Grayburn CBE JP (25 October 1925 – 19 February 2022) was a New Zealand businessman and company director.

Peter Grayburn CBE JP
Born	Peter Watson Grayburn (1925-10-25)25 October 1925
Died	19 February 2022(2022-02-19) (aged 96)
Occupation	Businessman

Biography

Born on 25 October 1925, Grayburn was the son of Fred Watson Grayburn, a veteran of the Gallipoli landings, and Vera Maud Watson (née Chalmers).^[1][2][3] He was educated at Geraldine District High School,^[4] and graduated from Victoria University College in 1949 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.^[5] During World War II, Grayburn trained as an air force pilot, but the war ended before he completed training, and he served in Japan as part of J Force after the end of hostilities.^[2]

Grayburn became a chartered accountant, and moved to Auckland in the early 1960s,^[6] joining with Rolf Porter and John Wigglesworth to form the accounting practice of Porter, Wigglesworth and Grayburn.^[7] He was prominent as a company director, and served as chairman of companies including Ceramco, Cavalier, and Kupe Group, and served on the boards of others including Salmond Smith Biolab and Corporate Investments Ltd.^[6][8]

In the 1995 New Year Honours, Grayburn was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to business management.^[9] In 2001, he was elected a distinguished fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.^[10] Grayburn died on 19 February 2022, at the age of 96.^[1]