[2][3][4] He was educated at New Plymouth Boys' High School, where he was a house prefect[5] and active in sports.

[12] At the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, Purser was eliminated in the round of 16 in each of the men's singles,[13] men's doubles (partnering his brother Richard),[14] and mixed doubles (with Robin Denton).

[15] At the 1978 Commonwealth Games at Edmonton, Purser was eliminated in the second round of the men's singles, reached the round of 16 in the mixed doubles with Allison Sinton,[16] and won the bronze medal with his brother Richard in the men's doubles.

[18] After playing badminton in Europe for several seasons, Purser returned to New Zealand, and with his sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Ray Cooper, bought the franchise for Cowell's Genuine Pavlovas in Hamilton, in 1981.

They grew the business, from initially baking 224 pavlovas a day, to a similar number per hour in 2001.