Dr Niazi Kraya was born in Cairo on 17 October 1946 and died suddenly on 12 May 2005. He completed his medical training at Cairo University where he obtained his MB ChB in 1970. He later trained in psychiatry at Oxford University and affiliated hospitals in the UK. He obtained the DPM in 1975 and MRCPsych in 1978. He held consultant posts in Liverpool, Lincolnshire and Saudi Arabia before going to New Zealand in 1989. Subsequently he became a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Physicians.

He worked initially as a Consultant Psychiatrist and Deputy Director of the Tokanui Psychiatric Hospital, which served the middle of the North Island of New Zealand. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed to the position of Director of Forensic Psychiatric Services for the Area Health Board, which covered in-patient and community services for the whole of the middle of North Island. Following the retirement of the Tokanui Psychiatric Hospital Director he also took over that position. He was heavily involved in all stages of the planning of the new 30-bed in-patient secure facility in the Henry Bennett Centre. This involved expansion and organisation of a comprehensive community service and a service to the local prisons. From 1995 he worked in Perth, Australia for about 2 years as a consultant psychiatrist at Graylands Hospital. While there he became a member of the Mental Health Review Board of Western Australia. In 1997 he returned to New Zealand to resume as Director of the Forensic Service and to commission the opening of the new forensic in-patient unit. From 2000 he worked in the United Arab Emirates for about 3 years as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the United Arab Emirates University before returning to Waikato as Director of Adult Mental Health and, subsequently, of Forensic Services until his untimely death.

Dr Kraya was warm, generous and humble with a keen sense of humour and a delightful personality. His tolerance and ability to work with even the most recalcitrant (staff) endeared him to all. He was devoted to his profession in clinical, educational and research matters and will be remembered for his role in the establishment of the regional forensic service in the Waikato area, for his natural empathy, and for his generosity with his time for whoever needed it.