Name Taurekareka Henare Party New Zealand Reform Party | Role Member of Parliament | |
Died January 12, 1940, Motatau, New Zealand | ||
Taurekareka (Tau) Henare (1878 – 12 January 1940) was a Maori member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1914 to 1938, sitting for the Reform Party for most of that time, until it merged with the United Party to form the National Party in 1936.
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Background and early life
Henare was born at Pipiwai in the Bay of Islands, in 1878 (probably) or 1877. His father, Henare Wynyard, was said to be the son of Robert Wynyard, acting governor of New Zealand. Henare was initially given the name Taurekareka Wynyard, but later adopted his father's first name as his own surname — this was likely because Robert Wynyard had been active in fighting against Maori, and his grandson, raised as Maori, did not wish to bear his name. Henare was also closely related to a number of prominent figures of Maori history, including Hone Heke. He was a member of the Ngapuhi iwi, and his strongest affinity was with the Ngati Hine hapu.
Henare had no formal education in the Western sense, but was taught Maori lore and traditions. He was raised for a time by Wi Pere (later to serve in Parliament) on the East Coast, but later returned north, possibly to avoid an arranged marriage. In 1903, Henare married Hera Paerata, whose mother was Maori and father was a member of the Subritzky family from Poland.
Political life
In the 1914 elections, Henare stood for the conservative Reform Party in the Northern Maori electorate of the Parliament, and won. He did not often participate in parliamentary debates, but was heavily involved in policy related to Maori interests. He worked closely with Apirana Ngata, a member of the Liberal Party, on a number of important issues, and took part in the consolidation of Maori lands in the North Auckland area.
In World War I, Henare argued against conscription of Maori, and suggested that the return of confiscated lands might persuade Maori to volunteer. He also helped Maori soldiers re-establish themselves upon their return from the war. In the influenza epidemic of 1918 he assisted the delivery of healthcare to Maori. Henare's wife was among the casualties of the epidemic. Henare also played a role in shaping Reform Party policy on Maori issues. He supported the efforts of Gordon Coates, then Minister of Native Affairs, to expand the role of his department, and promoted reforms of the Maori school system.
Henare remained in Parliament until the 1938 elections, when he was defeated by Paraire Karaka Paikea of the Labour Party who was affiliated with the Labour-aligned Ratana movement, whose rise Henare had opposed.
Legacy
Henare died in 1940 at his farm near Kawakawa. He was survived by six sons and two daughters. His son, Sir James Henare, was a prominent military officer, and his daughter, Ihapera Taua, was an important figure in the Maori Women's Welfare League.
Many years later, his great grandson, also called Tau Henare, was elected to Parliament in the same electorate.