Lester Dempster Patron of Conveyancing Practitioners

Lester Dempster was an amazing man. It is largely thanks to his efforts, and his determination, that we now have Conveyancing Practitioners operating in New Zealand.

Lester originally set up his conveyancing business in 1986. At that stage, Lester already had significant experience in conveyancing work, having had over 10 years’ survey experience with the Lands and Survey Department, and also having been a former Assistant Land Registrar with the-then Land Transfer Office (now LINZ) in Auckland.

In 1987, the Auckland District Law Society (ADLS) initiated a campaign seeking to restrict Lester from dealing in conveyancing matters with the public, and in 1994, after a lengthy legal battle, it successfully obtained an injunction restricting Lester from dealing with the public, unless instructed by a lawyer with a practising certificate.

Not being a person to shy away from obstacles, Lester had set about finding a way to break down the traditional, statutory monopoly lawyers had at that time on conveyancing work.

In Australia, where the majority of conveyancing transactions were being completed through non-lawyer conveyancing specialists, Lester became the first New Zealander to obtain registration as a landbroker (now conveyancer), under trans-Tasman laws recognising occupational equivalency.

These actions ultimately resulted in the New Zealand Registrar-General of Land, in 1999, approving the registration of Lester Dempster as a non-lawyer conveyancer, based on his Australian conveyancing qualification, and his dream became a reality.

Nonetheless, Lester continued to endure numerous battles for recognition and acceptance by the legal fraternity over the years, including the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) instigating what were ultimately unsuccessful proceedings against him, seeking judgment as to whether occupational equivalency provisions applied to landbrokers.

Lester also had to deal with the issue of some banks having been sent correspondence which appeared to warn against dealing with him, and so lodged complaints with the Commerce Commission, alleging anti-competitive behaviour, although it was Bank of New Zealand which had his back throughout. Lester fought hard for a cause he believed in.

Over the ensuing years, Lester continued to lobby government for the introduction of the conveyancing profession into New Zealand, including consultations with Hon. Phil Goff (then the Labour MP for New Lynn, now Mayor of Auckland) and finally, in [year] the Conveyancing Bill was introduced into parliament. The Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 received royal assent on 20 March 2006, thus paving the way for non-lawyer conveyancing specialists to operate in the New Zealand conveyancing market.

Lester became the founding President of the NZ Society of Conveyancers (NZSoC), and worked with the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic to oversee the implementation of the Diploma in Conveyancing, with the first intake of students being welcomed in 2009.

Sadly, Lester passed away prior to seeing the full results of his efforts, and the NZSoC as it now is. As a tribute to Lester, and his dedication to conveyancing, the NZSoC established the Lester Dempster Memorial Award, which is presented each year to the top graduating student in the Diploma in Conveyancing

Conveyancing was Lester Dempster’s passion. The personal, emotional and financial sacrifice that he made was incredible, as we all now benefit from Lester’s battle which spanned several decades. We are grateful for the energy that Lester showed, as the NZSoC looks forward to leading the conveyancing profession into the next generation.

In memory of Lester Dempster

Articles - Lester's journey