Gareth Morgan- What a Guy!

**gunnyrob** · 4th April 2006, 07:13

Just heard on the news that Gareth Morgan, the motorcycling economist, is going to donate the $47 million he got from the Trade me sale to charity! This decision was determined largely from the experience he & Jo had when riding the silk road to China, and they will help many of the people they met on the way. They are both keen motorcyclists and are exactly the sort of ambassadors our sport needs. They are about to start a tour of the Backroads of America on bikes and will have a blog on their website, www.garethmorgan.com. I'm off to the bookstore to buy their book, "riding the silk road" as they are giving away all the profit from that as well. (Sort of like a Kiwi long way round, without the moaning!)

Give them a double thumbs up.:

**nudemetalz** · 4th April 2006, 07:28

For sure, he is quite a guy.
If I do only half of what he has done before I die then I'll be happy.

I see he rides a F650. BMW's seem to be the machine of choice for world touring.

**Paul in NZ** · 4th April 2006, 08:08

If this is correct. Big thumbs up to this man and partner! Sensational stuff! Now this man really deserves a DB and I vote him motorcycle personality of the year! Thats amazing!

**Pixie** · 4th April 2006, 08:17

's funny.He used to be refered to as a raving,right wing monster by all the pinkos

**Sparky Bills** · 4th April 2006, 08:22

He did always say he wasnt in it for the money.

Personally i dont think i could give away that much money.
But id never see that much money, so im in a different class.

**Finn** · 4th April 2006, 08:46

Originally Posted by Pixie

's funny.He used to be refered to as a raving,right wing monster by all the pinkos

Exactly. Kiwi's love to label people with money as crazy capitalists.

Putting this aside, he's a better man than me. I never give a cent to charity. I did note that so far he mentioned giving money away to poor overseas countries. Wise move. Poverty in NZ is by choice in so many cases.

**skelstar** · 4th April 2006, 08:55

Bloody good guy...but if you were going to give a signf amount of money away, would you tell the media? Was it leaked maybe? Or is he doing it to highlight poverty (or bike trips)?

Just a think.

**Paul in NZ** · 4th April 2006, 09:21

Does it really matter why he is doing it? I work with charities and anyone of them would be glad of one dollar they didn't have to beg for!

Good on him!

I hope he invests the money and sets up a trust to give away the interest every year!

Cheers

**ManDownUnder** · 4th April 2006, 09:33

Yes, amasing what some people do isn't it... and I'll bet he feels GREAT for doing it.

Top man - an absolute top man. If anyone knows how to find him, buy him a beer (or something) from me.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 4th April 2006, 09:36

I agree entirely, top guy. Also I would like to do the trip he is doing (USA backroads).

I also think that his economic theory stuff (basically live within your means) has always been sensible. His view was often overtaken by the hype.

**Sniper** · 4th April 2006, 11:01

He is a bloody great guy for giving away the dosh. Shows that having a motorcycle is a pathway to true happiness or something like that

**Colapop** · 4th April 2006, 11:04

I'm a charity case...

**nudemetalz** · 4th April 2006, 11:29

Sheez, Col, your making me get my hanky out.....

I've got a Buell M2 Cyclone parked in my garage for the week not being ridden.......

**James Deuce** · 4th April 2006, 11:47

Originally Posted by skelstar

Bloody good guy...but if you were going to give a signf amount of money away, would you tell the media? Was it leaked maybe? Or is he doing it to highlight poverty (or bike trips)?

Just a think.

Cynical bastard.

NZ has some quaint laws that require transparency of your net worth once you get over a certain "value".

He would be publicly listed. By donating the cash he ensures that it retains its economic worth within NZ (no tax), he publicly acknowledges bankrolling Sam's project (Trademe) so there can be no "confusion" about how Sam got his start, he already has "enough" dosh made from his own hard work, and he may inspire some philanthropy from other NZers who have "enough" money. He also publicly acknowledges his son's ROI, making it easier for Sam to keep on building the business he is still involved with, and that would be just about the ultimate investor's reference for any future project Sam gets involved in.

Gareth has looked after his own interests, his family's interests, and most importantly taken up a little of the burden that faces NZers and the NZ government in an essentially socialist government framework. That is actually looking after the less fortunate. Not that half the miserable shits on this site think that anyone who isn't perfect deserves any help. At least this doesn't have to come out of the miserable shits own pockets this time, directly or indirectly.

Just for once, it's all good.