Morton began his zoology degree at the University of Auckland. In 1952 he completed his Doctorate of Philosophy, followed in 1959 by a Doctorate in Science at the University of London. During this time he was also a lecturer in the zoology department at the same university.
Career
On his return from London in the early 1960s, he became the first person to be appointed to the chair of the School of Zoology and Biological Sciences at Auckland University, a position he held from 1959 to 1988. He was considered at this time one of New Zealand's most talented up-and-coming academics, and was later regarded by many as one of New Zealand's greatest marine biologists. His teaching style and influence have been well-documented in A History of Biology at Auckland University 1883–1983. He believed in "humanising" complex scientific issues, and presenting them in laymen's language. Morton was also regarded as one of New Zealand's leading Christian academics and believed in a unified view of science and religion. He told The New Zealand Herald upon his retirement in 1988 that "I find that my scientific work has confirmed my Christian convictions. To me biology and theology complement each other." In his 1984 book Redeeming Creation he acknowledged the influence of the French palaeontologistTeilhard de Chardin in forming the teleological view he expounded in his academic life. Morton did much for conservation in New Zealand. In 1975, he was a leader in the establishment of New Zealand's first marine reserve, Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve. He led the conservation movement to a series of victories in the 1970s and 1980s, which saved the last of New Zealand's mainland native forests, Pureora, Whirinaki, Waitututu and South Westland from logging. He served on the Auckland Regional Authority from 1971 to 1974, losing his re-election bid after switching his party affiliation to Labour. In 1989 he became a founding member of the New Labour Party, which in 1991 formed a coalition with other parties called the Alliance.
Seashore ecology of New Zealand and the Pacific. John Edward Morton, Bruce William Hayward. Bateman, 2004.,.
The shore ecology of Upolu - Western Samoa. Issue 31 of Leigh Lab. bulletin. John Edward Morton, Andrew Jeffs, Leigh Marine Laboratory. University of Auckland, 1993.
Shore life between Fundy tides. John Edward Morton, J. C. Roff, Mary Beverley-Burton. Canadian Scholars Press, 1991.
The shore ecology of the tropical Pacific. John Edward Morton. Unesco Regional Office for Science and Technology for South-East Asia, 1990.
Christ, creation, and the environment. John Edward Morton. Anglican Communications, 1989.,.
Marine molluscs: Opisthobranchia, Part 2. Richard Carden Willan, John Edward Morton, John Walsby, Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, 1984.
Marine molluscs: Amphineura, archaeogastropoda & pulmonata, Part 1. Issue 4 of Leigh Lab. bulletin. John Walsby, John Edward Morton, Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, 1982.
Molluscs. John Edward Morton. Hutchinson University Library, 1979.
Seacoast in the seventies: the future of the New Zealand shoreline. John Edward Morton, David A. Thom, Ronald Harry Locker. Hodder and Stoughton, 1973.
Man, science and God. John Edward Morton. Collins, 1972.
