david moxon was born in palmerston north, new zealand, in 1951. he was educated at freyberg high school, where he was head boy. after one year at massey university palmerston north in 1971, he then attended the university of canterbury/college house, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in education and psychology in 1974, before studying again at massey university, where he graduated with a master's degree with honours in education and sociology in 1976. in 1975, as an ordinand for the diocese of waiapu, he studied theology at the university of oxford honours school, based at st peter's college. he graduated from oxford with a bachelor's degree with honours in 1978 and a master's degree in 1982. he also gained a certificate in maori studies from waikato university and a licentiate in theology (lth) from the bishopric of aotearoa.