Emeritus Bishop Denis Browne and Anglican Archbishop Sir David Moxon have been awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Waikato for outstanding leadership and contributions to the Waikato community.The two leaders were recognised at a graduation ceremony on April 21.
From Left to right: Waikato University Chancellor, the Rt Hon James Bolger, Anglican Archbishop Sir David
Moxon, Hamilton Emeritus Bishop Denis Browne and Vice-Chancellor Professor Neil Quigley.
University vice-chancellor Professor Neil Quigley said their honour is well-deserved. “Both David and Denis have worked tirelessly in pursuit of Church and community wellness, in the Waikato region in particular, so it’s fitting they both receive honorary doctorates together,” he said.
They supported the university’s chaplaincy and often led their communities in joint liturgical services — a practice that continues with their respective successors.
Emeritus Bishop Browne said his honorary doctorate reflected the work that had gone into aligning Church services with university life, “and receiving this honour alongside my good friend, Sir David, is an added bonus”.
As the Catholic bishop of Hamilton, Bishop Browne was committed to enhancing the performance of schools, and was instrumental in appointing high-achieving school leaders and upgrading facilities.
In 2001 he was named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community.
Archbishop Moxon is the Archbishop of Canterbury’s representative to the Holy See and director of the Anglican Centre in Rome.
Throughout his 20-year tenure as Bishop of Waikato, Archbishop Moxon was committed to several social and political causes, and alongside Bishop Browne supported the establishment of the Te Ara Hou Christian Social Services Village in Hamilton.
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