John Edward Morton

John Edward Morton
Born	1 April 1924 New Zealand
Died	6 March 2011 New Zealand
Fields	biology, conservation, marine biology, theology
Alma mater	University of Auckland, University of London

John Edward Morton QSO (1 April 1924 – 6 March 2011) was a biologist, scholar, theologian, and conservationist from New Zealand. Trained at the University of Auckland and the University of London, he became the author of numerous books, papers, and newspaper columns. Morton researched New Zealand’s ecology and marine life, and was a marine zoologist. He was also the presenter of the imported nature and science television programme, Our World.^[1]

Early life

Morton began his zoology degree at the University of Auckland. In 1952 he completed his Doctorate of Philosophy (in Science), followed in 1959 by a Doctorate in Science at the University of London. During this time he was also a lecturer in the zoology department at the same university.^[2]

Career

On his return from London in the early 1960s,^[3] he became the first person to be appointed to the chair of the School of Zoology and Biological Sciences at Auckland University,^[2] a position he held from 1959 to 1988.^[1] He was considered at this time one of New Zealand's most talented up-and-coming academics,^[4] and was later regarded by many as one of New Zealand’s greatest marine biologists.^[5]

His teaching style and influence have been well-documented in A History of Biology at Auckland University 1883–1983.^[6] He believed in "humanising" complex scientific issues, and presenting them in laymen's language.^[1]

Morton was also regarded as one of New Zealand's leading Christian academics and believed in a unified view of science and religion.^[7] He told The New Zealand Herald upon his retirement in 1988 that "I find that my scientific work has confirmed my Christian convictions. To me biology and theology complement each other."^[1] In his 1984 book Redeeming Creation^[8] he acknowledged the influence of the French palaeontologist Teilhard de Chardin in forming the teleological view he expounded in his academic life.

Morton did much for conservation in New Zealand. In 1975, he was a leader in the establishment of New Zealand’s first marine reserve, Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve (which is near Cape Rodney and Leigh and includes Goat Island).^[1] He led the conservation movement to a series of victories in the 1970s and 1980s, which saved the last of New Zealand's mainland native forests, Pureora, Whirinaki, Waitututu and South Westland from logging.^[4]

He served on the Auckland Regional Authority from 1971 to 1974, losing his re-election bid after switching his party affiliation to Labour.^[9] In 1989 he became a founding member of the New Labour Party, which in 1991 formed a coalition with other parties called the Alliance.^[4]

Awards

• M.Sc, (N.Z.)
• Ph.D, (Lond.)
• Fellow of the RSNZ,(1967)
• Fellow of Linnaean Society of London (F.L.S) (honoris causa)
• Queen's Service Order (QSO) (1976)

Selected bibliography

• Seashore ecology of New Zealand and the Pacific. John Edward Morton, Bruce William Hayward. Bateman, 2004. ISBN 1-86953-399-2, ISBN 978-1-86953-399-1.
• The shore ecology of Upolu - Western Samoa. Issue 31 of Leigh Lab. bulletin. John Edward Morton, Andrew Jeffs, Leigh Marine Laboratory. University of Auckland, 1993.
• Shore life between Fundy tides. John Edward Morton, J. C. Roff, Mary Beverley-Burton. Canadian Scholars Press, 1991.
• The shore ecology of the tropical Pacific. John Edward Morton. Unesco Regional Office for Science and Technology for South-East Asia, 1990.
• Christ, creation, and the environment. John Edward Morton. Anglican Communications, 1989. ISBN 0-473-00828-9, ISBN 978-0-473-00828-4.
• Marine molluscs: Opisthobranchia, Part 2. Richard Carden Willan, John Edward Morton, John Walsby, Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, 1984.
• The sea shore ecology of Hong Kong. Brian Morton, John Edward Morton. The University of Hong Kong, 1983. ISBN 962-209-027-3.
• Marine molluscs: Amphineura, archaeogastropoda & pulmonata, Part 1. Issue 4 of Leigh Lab. bulletin. John Walsby, John Edward Morton, Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, 1982.
• Molluscs. John Edward Morton. Hutchinson University Library, 1979.
• Seacoast in the seventies: the future of the New Zealand shoreline. John Edward Morton, David A. Thom, Ronald Harry Locker. Hodder and Stoughton, 1973.
• Man, science and God. John Edward Morton. Collins, 1972.
• The New Zealand sea shore. John Edward Morton, Michael C. Miller. Collins, 1968. Winner of Goodman Fielder Wattie Book Award for Poetry, 1968

References

1. Pickmere, Arnold (12 March 2011). "Obituary: Professor John Edward Morton". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
2. "Professor John Morton dies". Anglican Taonga. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
3. Free online Passenger Listing for the April 1960 voyage of the New Zealand Shipping Company's Rangitiki on which the Morton family travelled from London to New Zealand.
4. Lee, Mike (14 March 2011). "Tribute to a great New Zealander – farewell Prof John Morton". Retrieved 26 September 2011.
5. "John Morton". New Zealand Geographic (69). Sep–Oct 2004. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
6. Foster, Brian; Rattenbury, Jack; Marbrook, John (1983), A History of Biology at Auckland University 1883-1983 (Research Report), Department of Biology, University of Auckland
7. Watkin, Tim (21 April 2001). "Let's thank God for the wonder that is science". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
8. Redeeming Creation. Auckland: Zealandia. 1984.
9. John Roughan (12 March 2011). "Auckland's eco warriors come in many guises". The New Zealand Herald.