# Howard Morrison Quartet

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Main article: [Howard Morrison](/source/Howard_Morrison)

Howard Morrison Quartet The Howard Morrison Quartet in 1959 Background information Origin Rotorua, New Zealand Genres Easy listening, Tangatawhenua Years active 1956–1965, 1975, 1979, 1989, 1992-199?, 2006, 2008, 2009

Musical artist

The **Howard Morrison Quartet** (originally named the **Ohinemutu Quartet**) was a [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) band during the 1950s and early 1960s. The band was formed by Sir [Howard Morrison](/source/Howard_Morrison) and included Gerry Merito, Wi Wharekura and Noel Kingi.[1][2]

In 1955, while working as a surveyor's chainman, Morrison started putting together vocal groups to entertain at rugby club socials in [Rotorua](/source/Rotorua). The next year, the original Quartet members and their extended [whānau](/source/Wh%C4%81nau) won the 1956 Rotorua [Soundshell](/source/Shell_(theater)) Talent Quest, following which Morrison toured Australia as a member of the [Aotearoa](/source/Aotearoa) Concert Party. This lead him to decide to pursue music as a career.[3][4]

On his return, Morrison heard guitarist [Gerry Merito](/source/Gerry_Merito) and put together a group with Gerry and two others, Wi Wharekura and Noel Kingi, and named the group Howard Morrison Quartet. In 1958, they became part of Benny Levin's touring 'Pop Jamboree.' A recording they made of "Hoki Mai/ [Po Karekare Ana](/source/Po_Karekare_Ana)" sold well, and in 1959 their parody of "[The Battle of New Orleans](/source/The_Battle_of_New_Orleans)," recorded as "The Battle of the Waikato", became one of their biggest hits.[5]

In 1960, they were so popular their managers released 13 singles, three EPs and two albums. Another parody of [Lonnie Donegan](/source/Lonnie_Donegan)'s, "[My Old Man's A Dustman](/source/My_Old_Man's_A_Dustman)" was rewritten by Gerry Merito as "My Old Man's An All Black." This was topical because of the controversy over Maoris not being allowed to [tour South Africa](/source/1960_New_Zealand_rugby_union_tour_of_Australia_and_South_Africa) with that year's [All Blacks](/source/All_Blacks).

In 1962, two of their singles were more parodies, with [Ray Stevens](/source/Ray_Stevens)' "[Ahab The Arab](/source/Ahab_The_Arab)" becoming "Mori The Hori" and [Pat Boone](/source/Pat_Boone)'s "[Speedy Gonzales](/source/Speedy_Gonzales)" becoming "George The Wilder Colonial Boy", celebrating the exploits of escaped convict [George Wilder](/source/George_Wilder_(criminal)).

Due to the constant touring and absence from families, the quartet disbanded in 1965, but occasionally re-united in various incarnations over subsequent years.[5]

## Incarnations

**1956-1957 (The Ohinemutu "Quartet")**[6]

- Sir Howard Morrison

- John Morrison

- Terry Morrison

- Wi Wharekura

- Chubby Hamiora

- Gary Rangiihu

**1957-1958**

- Sir Howard Morrison

- Gerry Merito

- Laurie Morrison

- John Morrison

**1958-1959**

- Sir Howard Morrison

- Gerry Merito

- Laurie Morrison

- Tai Eru

**1959-1960**

- Sir Howard Morrison

- Gerry Merito

- Wi Wharekura

- Eddie Howell

**1960-1965, 1975** **(*Return of a Legend*), 1989 (*This Is Your Life: Sir Howard Morrison*) (classic line-up)**

- Sir Howard Morrison

- Gerry Merito

- Wi Wharekura

- Noel Kingi

**1979 (*Tu Tangata '79*)**[7]

- Sir Howard Morrison

- Gerry Merito

- [Toni Williams](/source/Toni_Williams)

- Noel Kingi

**1992-199?**[8]

- Sir Howard Morrison

- Gerry Merito

- Toni Williams

- Hori Bennett

**1995 (*Sir Howard Morrison: Time of My Life*)**[9]

- Sir Howard Morrison

- Gerry Merito

- Terry Morrison

- Tai Eru

Note: this incarnation played part of the Quartet segment of the show before Terry Morrison and Tai Eru gave way to Toni Williams and Hori Bennett, thus reverting to the previous incarnation. After this incarnation played some songs Terry and Tai rejoined them on stage for the finale of the segment.

**2006 (*A Knight with a Dame*)**[10]

- Sir Howard Morrison

- Gerry Merito

- Howard Morrison Jr.

- [Temuera Morrison](/source/Temuera_Morrison)

**2008 (*To Sir With Love*)**[11]

- Sir Howard Morrison

- Gerry Merito

- Wi Wharekura

- Toni Williams

**2009 (*Good Morning*)**[12]

- Sir Howard Morrison

- Toni Williams

- Hori Bennett

- Howard Morrison Jr.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. ["The Howard Morrison Quartet"](https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/15197/the-howard-morrison-quartet). *Teara.govt.nz*. Retrieved 20 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ['Story: Morrison, Howard Leslie'](https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/6m6/morrison-howard-leslie). *[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand](/source/Te_Ara%3A_The_Encyclopedia_of_New_Zealand)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Tebbutt, Leah. (8 March 2019). ['Remembering Soundshell: A building of many purposes'](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/remembering-soundshell-a-building-of-many-purposes/T4IHCOBP2Z5Y3L45AL63UPDRVI/). *[Rotorua Daily Post](/source/Rotorua_Daily_Post)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Morrison_Funeral_4-0)** ['Maori warriors lead Sir Howard Morrison's whānau'](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2900386/Maori-warriors-lead-Sir-Howard-Morrisons-whanau). *[Stuff (website)](/source/Stuff_(website))*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hits_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hits_5-1) ['Sir Howard Morrison'](https://www.muzic.nz/artists/sir-howard-morrison/). [Howard Morrison](/source/Howard_Morrison). *music.nz* official website.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Records : A New Maori Recording"](http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/issue/Mao19TeA/c32.html). *Teaohou.natlib.govt.nz*. August 1957. p. 56. Retrieved 25 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Sir Howard Morrison - New Zealand Musicians & Bands"](https://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/1533.html). *Muzic.net.nz*. Retrieved 25 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [\[1\]](https://archive.today/20130122000512/http://cgi.ebay.com/Howard-Morrison-Quartet-Magic-cd-live-New-Zealand-1992_W0QQitemZ190336904286QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_CDs?hash=item2c50f6ac5e&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Sir Howard Morrison - Time of My Life | Television"](https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/sir-howard-morrison-time-of-my-life-1995). *Nzonscreen.com*. Retrieved 25 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Van Gent Productions » Shows"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100603213307/http://www.vangent.co.nz/category/shows/page/2/). Archived from [the original](http://www.vangent.co.nz/category/shows/page/2/) on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["YouTube"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160415174111/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S22FznvTbDA). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S22FznvTbDA) on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["YouTube"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160506054920/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Av14CxvBOE). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Av14CxvBOE) on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.

## External links

- [AudioCulture profile](https://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/howard-morrison-quartet)

Authority control databases International VIAF National United States Other Te Papa (New Zealand)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Howard Morrison Quartet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Morrison_Quartet) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Morrison_Quartet?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.