The elder brother of Geoff Howarth, former New Zealand captain, he was born and died in Auckland.
After he left school he had back trouble, and his coach, Merv Wallace, suggested he take up spin bowling.
[3] India were chasing 277 in the fourth innings but Howarth's 5 for 34 gave New Zealand the advantage, highlighted by a catch off his own bowling, leading to a 167-run win.
[4] Howarth's other five-wicket haul came a few weeks later in a Test against Pakistan in Karachi, when he picked up 5 for 80.
He bowled 74 overs, 24 of them maidens, and took 2 wickets for 138 runs against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1972.