John Lochiel Robson

John Lochiel Robson CBE (4 June 1909 – 17 September 1993) was a New Zealand senior public servant and penal reformer. He was born in Halcombe, Manawatu, New Zealand in 1909. In 1931 he graduated Master of Laws from Canterbury College, University of New Zealand (now University of Canterbury) and Doctor of Philosophy (law) from University of London in 1939. Returning to New Zealand he rose through the civil service to the post of secretary for justice from 1960–69, where he pursued a progressive penal policy. He also had substantial impact on the Indecent Publications Act 1963. After retirement he founded the Institute of Criminology at Victoria University of Wellington. In the 1968 Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Honours

• 1968 Commander of the Order of the British Empire
• 1969 Honorary Doctor of law from Otago University
• 1936 Founding member of New Zealand Institute of Public Administration
• 1954–55 President of New Zealand Institute of Public Administration
• 1981–88 Patron of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand