Les Dickson, one of the old guard personalities on the Mount Maunganui waterfront, has died at the age of 85.

Les began on the waterfront as right-hand man to former Tauranga and Mount Maunganui mayor Bob Owens, before branching out and forming his own companies.

Les Dickson pioneered 24/7 port operations at Tauranga using a log loader. Photo: Supplied.

He also introduced the 24/7 working environment at the Port of Tauranga in the days when government rules tightly controlled port labour.

Stevedoring companies were unable to influence the loading practices of the watersiders they hired from the Waterfront Industry Commission, but it was possible to innovate in the marshalling area – arranging cargoes for loading on board ship.

Les used a Wagner log loader to cart logs 24-hours-a-day to the dock. This improved efficiency dramatically, effectively saving the employment of three trucks and trailers, three truck drivers, three cranes and six crane drivers, along with operating costs.

It was the first time 24-hour-a-day operations were introduced at a New Zealand port, and was hailed as a ground-breaking achievement in an industry where union control meant normal operating hours were strictly limited to daylight.

Les managed to negotiate with the Waterside Workers' Union for shift work that would enable work to continue around the clock until cargo was fully loaded.

This was an achievement in the late 1970s in an industry where hours and conditions of work were strictly controlled. They were met with continuous pressure from established vested interests such as the Port Employers Association and the Auckland unions.

Alongside other competitive stevedores at Tauranga, Les set the scene for the successful transition of the port through the 1989 reforms to its position today as the country's leading port.

He formed three stevedoring companies during his working life; Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Stevedores, Associated Stevedores and ISO Ltd, which is today run by his son Greg.

Les died on July 30. His funeral was at the Bethlehem Baptist Church on Monday, which was followed by a private cremation. He is survived by his wife Pattie, and children Leanne, Greg and Mandie, as well as nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.