InTouch : Farewell to an NZIM Founder

Kurt Schwarz QSM, FNZIM, one of the founders of the New Zealand Institute of Management, died recently in Wellington aged 95. Schwarz was born in Vienna in 1913 and arrived in Wellington in 1938.
He became managing director of local manufacturing company and was always focused on improving productivity and enhanced work processes. His interest and knowledge of this activity led him to become foundation and council member of what was to become the New Zealand Institute of Management. He became Wellington president in 1948 and was appointed NZIM National president in 1952. He was later made life member for his contribution to NZIM.
Schwarz’ experience gave him great interest in management education and he became founding member of the NZ Administrative Staff College. He served on its council and was its chairman in the mid 1960s.
In the early 1970s he was appointed to the council of the Central Institute of Technology.
Schwarz’ love of the arts, music and theatre led him to become foundation member of the NZSO and this achievement and his years of ongoing patronage was recognised by the NZSO in its recent 60th anniversary celebrations. He was awarded Queen’s Service Medal for services to the community in 2000.
His wife Lizzi passed away in 2001. He is survived by three daughters, Catherine, Tricia and Helen, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.