Sir (William) Douglas Goodfellow

1 Nov

Douglas Goodfellow, a son of dairy entrepreneur Sir William Goodfellow, built on his good start in life to become an astute investor and a spectacular donor.

He inherited great wealth but also the Goodfellows’ Presbyterian penchant for altruism and modesty. Once the richest New Zealander, by 1995 he had transferred most of his fortune to charitable trusts.

Goodfellow became a generous donor to the St Kentigern Trust, established in 1949 to facilitate the creation of a Presbyterian boys’ college at Pakuranga, Auckland.

He also established and funded a postgraduate chair in general practice at the Auckland Medical School, the Goodfellow Unit offering continuing education to doctors and nurses in primary health care, and the Douglas Goodfellow Scholarship in Engineering.