A Taranaki engineer whose company is a global leader in bitumen technologies is to be honoured by the University of Canterbury (UC).
The University Council will confer a doctor of engineering (honoris causa) on John Matthews at its December graduation ceremony.
He is a UC alumni who is the managing director of New Plymouth-based Technix Industries Limited and director of many associated companies.
Matthews has been in the bitumen industry for more than 50 years – he is referred to as the ‘Godfather’ of bitumen.
After gaining a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) at UC in 1963, Matthews commenced work in New Plymouth where he undertook the design and build of Russell Matthews Industries Limited (RMI) bulk bitumen terminal at Port Taranaki.
By the 1990s he had designed and built the largest bulk bitumen terminal and integrated bituminous products manufacturing facilities in New Zealand, importing the first shipment of a petroleum product into New Zealand by an independent operator since the Todd organisation sold to BP in the 1960s.
With the development of bituminous products research, manufacturing, and distribution activities and the development and expansion of roading contracting companies, the Technix group of companies became the second largest in this business in New Zealand.
Matthews has numerous New Zealand and world firsts – two of them associated with the development of a bulk bitumen terminal in Suva, Fiji.
He became the first to transport a 400 tonne tank, the largest in the world, across an ocean by barge from New Zealand to Fiji. He also designed and installed the first floating ship-to-shore bulk bitumen transfer pipeline.
In addition to being a technology leader in bituminous products, Matthews also built up Fitzroy Engineering Limited from an initial staff of seven to more than 1,000 at its peak.
Although he has since sold the business, it continues to be the largest heavy engineering fabricator in New Zealand.
Matthews also worked with New Zealand film-maker and kinetic artist, Len Lye, during the 1970s.
The association culminated in some of Len Lye’s kinetic sculptures being made at Fitzroy Engineering Ltd by Matthews and then exhibited at the Govett Brewster Art Gallery in 1977.
In 1980, Matthews with Lye and other New Zealanders, established the Len Lye Foundation. He has been chair of the foundation since its inception and is also the prime champion of the soon-to-be-opened Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth.
Matthews has been involved in many other philanthropic projects, including spearheading efforts to save the Taranaki Opera House, setting up and funding the Technix Computer Awards and being a major funder and supplier of workshop facilities to the Len Lye Foundation for more than 35 years.
Technix has had a long association with UC. It has funded many postgraduate students for Masters and PhD projects relating to both Technix and Len Lye in UC’s mechanical engineering department.
Four of these students will graduate alongside Matthews when he is awarded his honorary doctorate at a graduation ceremony in Christchurch in December. The ceremonies will take place on 15 and 17 December.
