In New Zealand, the field of rheumatology owes much to Moore Tweed. He was the second trained rheumatologist in the specialty, some three years after Professor Tom Highton. He was born in Carterton, son of Martin Tweed, medical practitioner, and Marjorie Elvery.

He qualified MB, ChB in 1945 with postgraduate experience including house officer posts at Wellington Hospital (1945–1946), after which he travelled to London for further training at the Hammersmith Hospital. He then completed research fellowships at the West London and Hammersmith Hospitals (1951–1952). He was appointed visiting physician and rheumatologist at Wellington Hospitals (1954–1987).

He gained MRCP (London), followed by MRACP (1955), FRACP (1962), and FRCP (1971). He was awarded the MBE for services to rheumatology. In addition to his hospital responsibilities, he was involved in general practice in central Wellington, particularly active among the large Greek community. He often shared stories about those times and held a lasting affection for many of his Greek patients.

He married Margaret Helen Watson in 1946, and they had one son. After seventeen years together, Margaret tragically passed away. Moore showed great fortitude in caring for his son and maintaining his professional duties. In 1967, he married Margie Whyte, and they were inseparable. He shared many anecdotes about their adventurous honeymoon, which was disrupted by the Six-Day War, forcing them to escape separately in trucks to Lebanon after taking refuge in the British embassy in Athens. They never reached Petra.

He was a skilled golfer with a low handicap, playing regularly at the Wellington Golf Club, though back problems increasingly limited his play. He humorously recounted stories about needing to lie down every second hole, to the dismay of his playing partners.

Moore was deeply committed to developing a rheumatology service in the region. The discipline had only recently emerged overseas post-war and was largely unrepresented in New Zealand outside Professor Highton’s efforts in Rotorua. Moore was instrumental in moving away from spa treatments toward more scientific approaches to rheumatic disease. He played a key role in establishing the Wellington rheumatology service as a regional entity in 1969. Though initially located at Wellington Hospital, more appropriate facilities were found at Hutt Hospital, which offered twenty beds and strong support from radiology, pathology, and orthopaedic surgery. Over time, the unit grew significantly, and Moore was heartened by its progress upon his retirement.

He served the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in numerous roles: as a member of the NZ Committee (1966–1980), Honorary Treasurer (1966–1972), Chairman (1972–1976), Councillor (1976–1978), NZ Vice-President (1978–1980), and Honorary Archivist (1983–2008). He received the College Medal in recognition of his contributions.

His other service included roles with the NZ Medical Corps (Home Services, 1941–1944; Territorial Service, Major, 1953–1961), President of the NZ Rheumatism Association (now NZ Rheumatology Association), Vice President of the Arthritis Foundation of NZ, and Vice President of the Benevolent Society.

Among his notable publications were "Observations on Prolonged Cortisone Administration in Rheumatoid Arthritis" (BMJ, 1952) and Fibrinolysis (Clin. Sci., 1952).

Margie passed away when Moore was 75. He continued to work with stoic dedication, only retiring from medicine at age 84. Though he experienced multiple health issues and hospitalisations, Moore retained his sharp wit and warm hospitality. He remained a stimulating, humorous, and attentive friend and colleague, despite increasing physical limitations.