James Clendon Tau Henare

James Henare (1911–1989) was born at Motatau in the Bay of Islands. He was descended from a number of famous northern warrior chiefs, including Hone Heke and Kawiti. His father Taurekareka Henare, elected Member of Parliament representing Northern Maori in 1914, was of Nga Puhi and Ngati Whatua. His mother, Hera Paerata, was of Te Rarawa, Ngati Kuri and Te Aupouri.

Henare was marked from childhood as a future leader, and was trained in Maori tikanga (custom) and whakapapa (genealogy). He was educated at Sacred Heart College, a European school in Auckland. Later he became a foreman on a Ngati Hine Maori land development scheme. He was a lay reader in the Anglican Church from the late 1930s, and a long-serving member of the Auckland synod.

When his father died in 1940 James Henare became a leader, a role enhanced by his service in the war. He enrolled as a private in the 28th New Zealand (Maori) Battalion, and quickly obtained a commission. He served with the Maori Battalion in North Africa - he was wounded at El Alamein - and in the Italian campaigns. He was promoted to captain in 1942, and major in 1944. In June 1945 he became commanding officer of the battalion with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was an inspirational, fearless and courageous leader. He was mentioned in dispatches, and received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1946 for his conduct at the battle of Monte Cassino.

After the war he devoted himself to public service and the leadership of his people. One of his most significant contributions was to help set up the kohanga reo programme, through which pre-school children learnt the Maori language. He also continued his father's fight for recognition of the Treaty of Waitangi. He believed it was the special duty of Tai Tokerau (Northland) tribes to "argue the Treaty". Until his death he served as a member of Te Rūnanga o te Tiriti o Waitangi, a committee of descendants of the chiefs who had signed the Treaty in 1840. Following on from his father he was a member of the Waitangi National Trust Board in 1940, and was organising secretary of the Waitangi centennial celebrations that year. He was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1966, and was knighted in 1978. James Henare died at Kawakawa in 1989.

See also: biography of James Henare at DNZB website