[1] Although carbon dating was invented in the United States by the chemist Willard Libby, New Zealand scientists played a significant part in its early development.
Rafter initially concentrated on analysis of coal ash, but gained much acclaim when he worked with rock analyst Fred Seelye on a new method of analysing uranium-bearing minerals found in beach sands on the West Coast of New Zealand.
In the 1958 Queen's Birthday Honours, Rafter was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his service as director of the Dominion Physical Laboratory.
Rafter also encouraged the use of naturally occurring stable (non-radioactive) isotopes for geological research, developing techniques for use in geothermal and environmental studies.
After retiring from the DSIR, Rafter spent two years as director of the United Nations Environment Programme Monitoring and Assessment Research Centre in London.