Simon died in Wellington hospital on 14 May after a long period of ill health.

E te uri o Hinengakau, e te reo reka o te awa tupua, e te matua Morvin, kei te mamae, kei te tangi te ngakau ki a koe kua wehe atu nei. E kore to kanohi e kitea, engari to reo ka rangona tonutia e waiata mai ana ki nga topito o te motu, heke iho ki nga uri whakatupu. Haere, haere, haere ra. E te whanau pani, ka nui te aroha ki a koutou.

Simon was a descendant of Te Atihaunui-a-Paparang, Ngati Apa and Ngati Tuwharetoa tribes.

He was born at Kaiwhaiki Marae on the Whanganui River. He was educated at Upokongaro School and Hato Paora Maori Boys College before going on to study philosophy and sociology at Holy Name College in Christchurch and Maori language and Oral Literature at Victoria and Massey Universities.

Simon was renowned both nationally and internationally for his ability to compose choral pieces.

The programme co-ordinator of the Bachelor of Performing Arts at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi, Rob Ruha, said he would be sadly missed in the kapa haka world.

Gerrard Albert, of Ngati Tuera, Nga Paerangi said the Whanganui River had lost a unique man who had many gifts.

He said when Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi was the tribe in residence during the Awa Tipua exhibition at Te Papa museum 10 years ago, he was the right person to explain Whanganui tikanga.

Che Wilson of Ngati Rangi, who worked closely with Mr Simon, says Uncle Morv will be missed.

"Because of his influence not only within the tribes that he is from but also the Catholic church and especially the kapa haka world where he not only wrote numerous songs for his own people but for Hato Paora and clubs around the country," he says

Te Tai Hauauru MP, and Maori Party co leader Tariana Turia, said, the unique combination of all of the educational influences Simon experienced "was seen in the incredible repertoire of compositions which made your heart soar, lifted your spirits and then moved you to tears."

"Like te awa tupua, his waiata could move from tempestuous rapids to smooth waters that caress your every trouble away. E riporipo ana ngAe wai - the one comfort we can turn to is to know the river flows on, and the melodies will be taken up by all our mokopuna to lift our hearts at this time of sorrow."

Former Maori Affairs deputy secretary Neville Baker said Simon was one of the best writers of Maori, as well as being an expert in tikanga and in guiding the iwi forward.

Morvin Simon lay at Hato Paora College in Fielding on Wednesday night before being taken to Kaiwhaiki Marae on the Whanganui River where his body was to lie until his burial.

Morvin Simon is survived by his wife Kura and 11 children

Source

• Voxy.co.nz
• Watea News
• Watea News
• Wanganui Chronicle
• Maori Television
• Radio New Zealand
• Image:WanganuiLibrary

Mr Simon is now a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) and his wife has a Queen's Service Medal (QSM).

Asked whether all those years of composing songs, singing and tutoring kapa haka were hard work, Mr Simon said they were. "But you don't even consider it hard work. It's something that needs to be done, because the people enjoy it."

Mrs Simon, who has organised his life since his health failed, agreed. "When you're working with people, it's always hard work, but it's something you enjoy when you see the results," she said.

Source

• Wanganui Chronicle

Both men were presented with honorary bachelor degrees in Maori performing arts.

Whakatane-based Maori tertiary institution Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi organised the symposium.

Programme co-ordinator for the Awanuiarangi bachelor of Maori performing arts, Rob Ruha, said Simon and Wehi epitomised haka excellence and cultural stewardship.

People from all over the North Island attended the day long symposium at the Rotorua Convention Centre on 5th November.

Morvin Te Anatipa Simon was born at Kaiwhaiki Marae on the Whanganui River.

He was educated at Upokongaro School and Hato Paora Maori Boys College before going on to study philosophy and sociology at Holy Name College in Christchurch and Maori language and Oral Literature at Victoria and Massey Universities.

Source

• Radio New Zealand
• The Daily Post
• Wanganui Library.com
• Image: Waka Huia