A doctorate for Sir Howard

Howard Morrison

Sir Howard Morrison sheepishly suggests it has taken almost 50 years to achieve some academic success.

From humble beginnings at a "native school" in the Urewera, the prolific entertainer, businessman and Maori leader was yesterday awarded an honorary doctorate at Waikato University.

The award is recognition of Sir Howard's service to the community in Maori education, business development and other community endeavours for more than 50 years. The 70-year-old entertainer who rose to fame as a member of the Howard Morrison Quartet said he was honoured.

"I will treasure this because it wasn't given for entertainment. It is an acknowledgement for the fact I have made a business out of 50 years of entertainment employing hundreds of people.

"It is an award to be shared with not just my whanau and iwi but with all people I have worked with over many years."

Sir Howard has been a long-standing contributor to youth-at-risk initiatives. He established the Sir Howard Morrison Education Foundation for Te Arawa rangatahi (youth) entering university study, is a trustee of the Books in Homes initiative and patron of Victim Support New Zealand.

He is also a founder and trustee of the PTE Manaakitanga Aotearoa Trust, based in Rotorua, and Tu Tangata business studies programme.

He said that although his academic education was strong, having attended Te Aute College in Hastings for four years and Rotorua Boys High School, he failed school certificate, passing four subjects but failing compulsory English.

The Te Arawa kaumatua joins a distinguished list of recipients of honorary doctorates at the university, including Janet Frame, Dame Malvina Major, Don Stafford, Hare Puke, Tui Adams, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Neil and Tim Finn, Michael King and Margaret Mahy.