Born in Christchurch in 1939, Morrissey got his first after-school job at the age of nine, working for a local harness-racing trainer.
[1] In 1959, Morrissey broke 49 seconds for 440 yards and represented Canterbury at the national athletics championships.
[2] Morrissey was appointed branch manager of A.M. Satterthwaite in Dunedin in 1963, and chief executive of Edmonds Group in Christchurch in about 1969.
[5] In 2004, Morrissey appeared on the National Business Review "rich list", with an estimated worth, mostly in property, of NZ$30 million.
[6] Morrissey was involved with the Hohepa Foundation, which provides accommodation and support to people with intellectual disabilities, as a donor, fundraiser, board member and chairman.