John Bradley Yaldwin was a barrister and chairman of the Local Government Commission.

[4][5] From an early age his interest in natural history was fostered by the local environment of eastern Wellington.

[6] From 1949 to 1958 Cameron studied zoology at Victoria University under the parasitologist and ichthyologist L. R.

[citation needed] In 1954 Yaldwyn was a member of the 1954 Chatham Islands expedition where he studied crustacea.

[1] However he continued working at Te Papa as an Honorary Research Associate until shortly before his death, managing to finish several projects that been started earlier in his career.