Lawrence Herbert Hansen was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1929 and after early education at Palmerston Boys' High School entered the University of Otago Medical School, qualifying in 1955. After early hospital appointments in Wellington he came to England to work as surgical registrar at Ealing Hospital and passed the FRCS in 1963. Returning to New Zealand he passed the FRACS in 1967 and was appointed consultant in general surgery at Taranaki Base Hospital where he developed a particular interest in colorectal disease. He was an enthusiastic surgical teacher and served as President of the Taranaki Division of the New Zealand Medical Association. He was a keen trout fisherman. He died suddenly in his consulting rooms on 25 July 1984, aged 55, survived by his wife Valerie, daughters Andrea and Victoria, and son, Guy.