by Nick Drew | Wed 09 Apr 2025
Worlds Oldest Dozer Driver Passes
It was with great sadness that we learnt about the death of Dave Lott who was the founder and brains behind New Zealand based family business Lott Contracting, Dave who was born on 26/3/1929 passed away peacefully at home on 11/2/2025.
On the company's Facebook page the family wrote, "A true legend has been lost and one of life’s good buggers. At the age of 95 Dave can now rest easy. As Dave told us just before passing “I’ve had a good one".
"He has hung up his towelling hat, lunch box and thermos and his last tank of diesel has been burnt!".
By way of a tribute, I would like to reproduce a blog post I wrote featuring Dave back in 2021.
The family behind the Waiau, North Canterbury, based business Lott Contracting, were recently all gathered around the TV watching a documentary which featured an American contractor described as the oldest dozer driver in the world at 85 years young, well the Lott family said, “no problem, we can top that” with their father and founder of the business Dave Lott, who at 92 years young, is still at it on a daily basis!
Dave Lott started his contracting business way back in 1957 when he purchased an International TD9A dozer from a returning serviceman, that solitary machine was the catalyst for a business that is now in its 3rd generation and running a wide range of machines.
Photo: 3 Generations of the Lott family with their fully restored Fiat-Allis 14C dozer.
Jendy Harper of TVNZ’s Seven Sharp show went in search of Dave, to find out more about the man and his love for running dozers.
In loving memory of this inspirational New Zealander gone but never forgotten. Rest In Peace Dave.