There he formed a lifelong association with the people of Atiu including the high chief Rongomatane who named one of his sons in honour of their friendship.
Ron Crocombe lived in Papua New Guinea between 1962 and 1969, as Director of the ANU's New Guinea Research Unit based in Port Moresby, and then went to the newly established University of the South Pacific where he was Professor of Pacific Studies for 20 years.
In August 2010, a Festschrift conference was held at the University of the South Pacific in Rarotonga to commemorate Crocombe's lifetime work.
[3] On 13 February 2014, a book was launched as a tribute to Crocombe's life, work and academic impact.
The book was edited by his wife, Marjorie Crocombe, and colleagues Rod Dixon and Linda Crowl.