People Library: Peter Whiting (Rugby and Geology)

The Festival of Colour's People Library is a way to 'borrow' a range of clever people with expert knowledge of particular topics. Borrow Peter Whiting (Rugby and Geology: A Life of Two Halves) for 20 minutes and enjoy his insight into these two diverse topics.

Peter Whiting studied Geology at Auckland University and played for the All Blacks from 1971 to 1976. He became interested in gemstones on his last rugby tour in 1976 in South Africa and went on to study Gemology in London and Germany. Peter came back to New Zealand in 1978 and set up a gemstone importing and wholesale business, which he sold in 2014. He is now involved as a director with his Melbourne-based family jewellery business Cushla Whiting Jewellery. In Wanaka, Peter pursues his interests being geology, environmental science and business, and, as his body is a bit “ravaged by rugby injuries”, he says he has a fair bit of knowledge in that area as well.