Taurekareka Henare
Encyclopedia
Taurekareka Henare (1878 – 12 January 1940) was a Māori politician
of the Reform Party
.
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 Māori, 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 Māori history, including Hone Heke
. His iwi
was Ngā Puhi.
Henare had no formal education in the Western sense, but was taught Māori 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, who was half Māori and half Polish
.
, Henare stood for the conservative Reform Party
in the Northern Maori
seat of the Parliament, and won. He did not often participate in parliamentary debates, but was heavily involved in policy related to Māori 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 Māori lands in the North Auckland area.
In World War I
, Henare argued against conscription
of Māori, and suggested that the return of confiscated lands might persuade Māori to volunteer. He also helped Māori soldiers re-establish themselves upon their return from the war. In the influenza epidemic of 1918 he assisted the delivery of healthcare to Māori. Henare's wife was among the casualties of the epidemic. Henare also played a role in shaping Reform Party policy on Māori 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 Māori 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.
. 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 Māori Women's Welfare League
.
Many years later, his great grandson, also called Tau Henare
, was elected to Parliament in the same electorate.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of the Reform Party
New Zealand Reform Party
The Reform Party, formally the New Zealand Political Reform League, was New Zealand's second major political party, having been founded as a conservative response to the original Liberal Party...
.
Background and early life
Henare was born at PipiwaiPipiwai
Pipiwai is a locality in the Te Horo valley in Northland, New Zealand. Whangarei is about 35 km to the southeast. Titoki is about 16 km to the south.There are few jobs in the area, and most adults are either on benefits or commute to Whangarei or Dargaville....
in the Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, it is close to the northern tip of the country....
, in 1878 (probably) or 1877. His father, Henare Wynyard, was said to be the son of Robert Wynyard
Robert Wynyard
Sir Robert Henry Wynyard was a New Zealand colonial administrator, serving at various times as Lieutenant Governor of New Ulster Province, Administrator of the Government, and was the first Superintendent of Auckland Province.-Lieutenant Governor of New Ulster:From 26 April 1851 to 7 March 1853,...
, 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 Māori, 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 Māori history, including Hone Heke
Hone Heke
Hone Wiremu Heke Pokai was a Māori rangatira and war leader in Northern New Zealand and a nephew of Hongi Hika, an earlier war leader of the Ngāpuhi iwi. Hone Heke is considered the principal instigator of the Flagstaff War....
. His iwi
Iwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
was Ngā Puhi.
Henare had no formal education in the Western sense, but was taught Māori lore and traditions. He was raised for a time by Wi Pere
Wi Pere
Wi Pere , born Wiremu Pere, was a Māori Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Pere himself was an outstanding figure amongst the Poverty Bay and East Cape Māori, and one of Poverty Bay's most illustrious sons....
(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, who was half Māori and half Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
Political life
In the 1914 electionsNew Zealand general election, 1914
The New Zealand general election of 1914 was held on 10 December to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 19th session of the New Zealand Parliament. A total number of 616,043 voters were registered, of which 84.7% voters turned out to vote....
, Henare stood for the conservative Reform Party
New Zealand Reform Party
The Reform Party, formally the New Zealand Political Reform League, was New Zealand's second major political party, having been founded as a conservative response to the original Liberal Party...
in the Northern Maori
Northern Maori
Northern Maori was one of the four original New Zealand Parliamentary Māori electorates, from 1868 to 1996.-Population centres:The electorate includes the following population centres: Auckland, Whangarei.-Tribal Areas:...
seat of the Parliament, and won. He did not often participate in parliamentary debates, but was heavily involved in policy related to Māori interests. He worked closely with Apirana Ngata
Apirana Ngata
Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata was a prominent New Zealand politician and lawyer. He has often been described as the foremost Māori politician to have ever served in Parliament, and is also known for his work in promoting and protecting Māori culture and language.-Early life:One of 15 children, Ngata...
, a member of the Liberal Party
New Zealand Liberal Party
The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...
, on a number of important issues, and took part in the consolidation of Māori lands in the North Auckland area.
In World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Henare argued against conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
of Māori, and suggested that the return of confiscated lands might persuade Māori to volunteer. He also helped Māori soldiers re-establish themselves upon their return from the war. In the influenza epidemic of 1918 he assisted the delivery of healthcare to Māori. Henare's wife was among the casualties of the epidemic. Henare also played a role in shaping Reform Party policy on Māori issues. He supported the efforts of Gordon Coates
Gordon Coates
Joseph Gordon Coates, MC and bar served as the 21st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1925 to 1928.- Early life :Born on the Hukatere Peninsula in Kaipara Harbour where his family ran a farm, Coates took on significant responsibility at a relatively early age because his father suffered from...
, then Minister of Native Affairs
Minister of Maori Affairs
The Minister of Māori Affairs is the minister of the New Zealand government with broad responsibility for government policy towards Māori, the first inhabitants of New Zealand. The current Minister of Māori Affairs is Dr. Pita Sharples.-Role:...
, to expand the role of his department, and promoted reforms of the Māori school system.
Henare remained in Parliament until the 1938 elections
New Zealand general election, 1938
The 1938 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 26th term. It resulted in the governing Labour Party being re-elected, although the newly-founded National Party gained a certain amount of ground.-Background:The Labour Party had won...
, when he was defeated by Paraire Karaka Paikea
Paraire Karaka Paikea
Paraire Karaka Paikea was a New Zealand politician who captured the Rātana Movement's third Māori electorate of Northern Maori from Taurekareka Henare in 1938. He was Minister without portfolio representing the Māori race from 1941 to 1943 and was also Māori Recruiting Director on the War...
of the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
who was affiliated with the Labour-aligned Ratana
Ratana
The Rātana movement is a Māori religion and pan-tribal political movement founded by Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana in early 20th century New Zealand...
movement, whose rise Henare had opposed.
Legacy
Henare died in 1940 at his farm near KawakawaKawakawa, New Zealand
Kawakawa is a small town in the Northland Region of northern New Zealand. It had a population of 1347 at the 2006 census, down from 1401 in 2001. Kawakawa developed as a service town when coal was found in the area in 1861, but there is no longer coal mining here...
. 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 Māori Women's Welfare League
Māori Women's Welfare League
The Māori Women’s Welfare League or Te Rōpū Wāhine Māori Toko I te Ora is a New Zealand welfare organisation focusing on Māori women and children...
.
Many years later, his great grandson, also called Tau Henare
Tau Henare
Tau Henare is a New Zealand Māori parliamentarian. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1993 to 1999 and returned to Parliament in 2005. He has been involved with four political parties: Mana Motuhake, New Zealand First, Mauri Pacific and the National Party - representing three in...
, was elected to Parliament in the same electorate.