Honorary doctorate for hymn writer

New Zealand hymn writer Shirley Erena Murray will receive an honorary doctor of literature degree from the University of Otago on Saturday.

Mrs Murray, who lives at Raumati Beach, near Wellington, has an MA (Hons) degree in classics and French from Otago University.

She has been writing hymns with a distinctive New Zealand flavour since the 1970s, producing ones such as Hymn for Anzac Day, Hymn for Waitangi Day and God Bless Our Land.

She has gained international acclaim for her writing, becoming a fellow of the Hymn Society of the United States and Canada this year, a fellow of the Royal School of Church Music in 2006, and a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2001 for services to the community through hymn writing.

University vice-chancellor Prof Sir David Skegg said the honorary doctorate recognised Mrs Murray's outstanding contribution to the art of hymn writing.