Sir Howard about to become a doctor

By ALISON BROWN in Rotorua
As a young man growing up in Rotorua, Sir Howard Morrison struggled at school. He failed English and left without getting School Certificate.

But yesterday, the man who went on to become an entertainment legend celebrated with friends and whanau in Hamilton in anticipation of receiving one of the highest academic honours anyone can get.

The University of Waikato officially announced it would be awarding an honorary doctorate to Sir Howard at a graduation ceremony next month.

The award is in recognition of the 70-year-old's outstanding service to the community, particularly in the areas of Maori education and business development, and his contribution to various community projects.

About 350 people attended a function hosted by university staff and Tainui iwi to celebrate the announcement with Sir Howard and his family.

Dame Malvina Major was among those invited to share in the special day.

Speaking to the Daily Post from Hamilton, Sir Howard said he was "over the moon" to be considered for the doctorate.

"It beats getting a gold record or anything like that."

Reflecting on his school years, he said he got a good education despite leaving without any formal qualification.

"I failed English which is ironic now because language and English is the genre I'm working so much in now.

"I come from a humble background and I've had a few highlights in my career but this is something special. It's great that entertainment is being acknowledged as a business but I won't be calling myself Dr Sir Howard Morrison - that's a bit of a mouthful."

Sir Howard Morrison has been a long-standing contributor to youth-at-risk initiatives, dating back to the 1970s. He established the Sir Howard Morrison Education Foundation for Te Arawa rangatahi entering university study, is a trustee of the Books in Homes initiative and is patron of Victim Support New Zealand. He is also a founder and trustee of Rotorua's Manaakitanga Aotearoa Trust and is a founding member of the Tu Tangata business studies programme at Massey University.

He is a member of the Committee of Management for the Ngati Whakaue Tribal Lands Inc and is a board member for Parenting with Confidence. He has previously held board positions with New Zealand Tourism, the New Zealand Broadcasting Authority and Te Puia (formerly New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute).

With the University of Waikato honorary doctorate Sir Howard Morrison joins a distinguished list of recipients, including Janet Frame, Dame Malvina Major, Hare Puke, Tui Adams, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Neil and Tim Finn, Michael King, Margaret Mahy and Rotorua historian Don Stafford.