Sir James Henare: 1977-1989

Transition

Davidßobie writes on the passing of one of New Zealand’s great rangatiras.

TRIBUTES flowed from through

out the Pacific when one of. the great rangatiras of New Zealand, Sir James Henare a distinguished soldier, farmer, politician, ana advo cate of Maori causes died on April 2, aged 78. PM David Lange described him as having lived a life that exem

plified the partnership promised in

the Treaty of Waitangi.

“Sir James walked easily in both worlds, Maori and Pakeha, he said, “commanding respect for the ways in which he combined the best of the two cultures.” Maori Affairs Minister Koro Wetere added that Honare was one of the poupou (pillars) of Maoridom and one of its greatest leaders.

“Not many leaders of our time owe

their position to quiet dignity rather

than vociferous opportunism. Sir James did,” remarked the New Zea land Herald in an editorial. “His chief ly mana had its roots in a classic Maori upbringing and grew in battle.”

Several thousand people converged

on the Otiria Marae in Northland to

pay their respects after Sir James had died. Four days later he was buried with full military honours near his pa rents at that tiny Tau Henare Marae at Mototau. The procession, with a gun carriage carrying his casket from Otiria, was delayed for three hours to enable a contingent from the Pacific Islands to pay their respects. Mour ners at the tangi (funeral) included the Moari Queen, Dame Te Atairangi Kaahu; Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves, Prime Minister Lange,

Opposition Leader Jim Bolger, chiefs

and elders of many Maori tribes and members of the 28th Maori Battalion.

The paramount chief of Tai Tokcr au, Sir James was born in a nikau palm whare at Mototau, the son of Northern Maori MP Tau Henare. He spoke Maori at home and English at

school; after studying at Massey Agri

cultural College he worked as a bush man and a farm labourer before mar rying Rose Cherrington, a distant cousin to whom he had been bet rothed at birth, in 1933. Together

they broke in a dairy farm in swamp land at Motatau. Four of their six chil dren had been born when World War II broke out and Henare’s father ordered him to sign up.

Joining the New Zealand Army as a private, Henare rose to the rank of

lieutenant-colonel, becoming comman

der of the Maori Battalion and taking part in major actions in North Africa and Italy. Wounded three times, he was awarded the DSO in 1945.

A source of inspiration and wisdom for his people throughout his life, He nare was also staunch in his conviction that the Treaty of Waitangi be hon oured. He championed many Maori causes and helped found the Lohanga reo (language nest) programme, which he is said to have named. He was knighted in 1978.

“His calm voice could move Maori and Pakeha,” noted the Herald. “He had optimism that reserves of goodwill between the races in this country could overcome passing tension. New Zealand must live up to his memory.”□