Laurie Francis

Sir Laurie Justice Francis (30 August 1918 – 3 August 1993) was a New Zealand lawyer and diplomat. He served as the New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia from 1976 to 1984.

Biography Born in Oamaru on 30 August 1918, Francis was educated at Otago Boys' High School and the University of Otago, where he graduated LLB in 1948. During World War II, Francis serviced with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force after enlisting in 1943. In 1952, he married artist Heather McFarlane,

Francis worked as a lawyer in Winton, and from 1962 was a senior partner in a Dunedin law firm. He was active in the National Party, Rotary, the Returned Services' Association, and the Presbyterian church. He resigned from the latter position in 1984, returning to Dunedin to work as a legal consultant.