Morvin Simon

Morvin Te Anatipa Simon (1944 – 14 May 2014) was a New Zealand Māori composer, kapa haka leader, choirmaster and historian.

Biography Born at Kaiwhaiki marae on the Whanganui River, Simon was of Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Apa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa descent. He was educated at Upokongaro School and Hato Paora College, and studied sociology and philosophy at Holy Name Seminary in Christchurch, and Māori language and oral literature at Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University.

Simon succeeded his father as choirmaster at Kaiwhaiki, recording the series of albums The Valley of Voices, He was the leader of the kapa haka groups Te Matapihi and Te Taikura o te Awa Tupua.

An expert in the Māori language, Simon was appointed an adjunct professor by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in 2004. He wrote a series of books Taku Whare E about the marae in the Whanganui region, with the third and final book focusing on his home marae of Kaiwhaiki.

In 2012, Simon was awarded an honorary Bachelor of Arts in Māori Performing Arts by Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, in recognition of his contribution to kapa haka and cultural stewardship. In the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori. At the same time, his wife, Titikura Simon, was awarded the Queen's Service Medal, also for services to Māori.