It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our esteemed colleague and dear friend, Rodger Gibb, on 24 May 2025. Rodger was a member of Unitec’s Civil Engineering Department for more than 20 years, where his expertise, dedication, and warmth left a lasting impact on students and staff who knew him.
Born in Dunedin in 1961, Rodger lived a life full of adventure and achievements across different fields. The only boy in a family with three younger sisters, he was a natural athlete from an early age, excelling in multiple sports. Rodger was a keen soccer and rugby player, swam competitively, while particularly excelling in cricket and badminton—sports in which he represented Otago.
Rodger’s engineering career began at Dunedin City Council, where he worked on water, traffic, and roading projects. He then joined the Ministry of Works as an engineering draftsman while earning his New Zealand Certificate in Civil Engineering (later completing a BEngTech (Civil)). His work on the Clyde Dam project marked the start of a career filled with significant contributions to infrastructure in New Zealand and abroad. Seeking adventure, he travelled overseas, working in London pubs before returning to engineering where he worked for Dobbies and Partners, then with Dar Al-Handasah — this time on roading, rail, and sewage schemes in Libya, bridges in Saudi Arabia, and projects across Africa.
Upon returning to New Zealand, Rodger moved into commercial design at Foodstuffs, mastering early AutoCAD systems, before joining Kingston Morrison (later Sinclair Knight Merz). There, he led drafting teams on major international projects, including the Leyte Geothermal Power Development (Philippines) and Wayang Windu (Indonesia). These were massive, multi-year projects that proved highly profitable for the company.
In 2004, Rodger brought his wealth of industry experience to Unitec, where he became a cornerstone of the civil engineering programme. Over a period of 21 years—later joined by his future partner, Ingrid—he helped shape the education of over 3,000 students in civil and structural engineering drawing and modelling courses, blending real-world insight with academic rigour.
Beyond his professional achievements, Rodger was a devoted family man. He applied his engineering skills to renovating a beloved bach in Whangamata, creating cherished holiday memories for his young family, and in more recent years, designing and supervising the construction of a beautiful home near Matakana that he shared with Ingrid.
We, his colleagues remember Rodger’s kindness, his quick wit and playful sense of humour, and his appreciation for the absurd. He had a hilarious eye-roll for grandiose schemes or bureaucratic inefficiencies that didn’t contribute to his students’ real-world success. Deeply dedicated to vocational engineering education, he often voluntarily tracked student enrolments and success rates, always seeking ways to improve their experience.
Rodger’s passing leaves a profound void in our department. We extend our deepest sympathies to his partner, Ingrid; his children, Chris and Kimberley; his granddaughter, Amelia; his sisters, Judy, Allison, and Diane; and all who knew and loved him as family.
Rest easy, Rodger—your legacy lives on in the engineers you taught, the projects you shaped, and the lives you touched.
To Ingrid and family, and the Engineering Department, I am shocked by this news. Much love and condolences to you and your family Ingrid. I enjoyed working with Roger and yourself.
Antoinette
Rodger’s passing has come as a profound shock to all of us. He was a great soul and a remarkable human being — a passionate and steadfast supporter of the TEU, always ready to stand up for his colleagues and champion fairness and equity in the workplace. We will dearly miss his colourful chats, his sharp sense of humour, and the genuine kindness he showed to everyone around him. Rodger touched many lives with his warmth and spirit, and his absence leaves a deep void. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his partner, Ingrid, and his family during this incredibly difficult time.