Sir James Henare

Tu Tangata, Issue 19, 1 August 1984, Page 12

Sir James Henare

Sir James Herare has walked and talked with those great maori statesmen and knights of the past, Maui Pomare, James Carroll, Te Rangi Hiroa, Apirana Ngata and Eruera Tirikatene. “They were the heroes I worshipped as a young man. The mere fact that I am a knight does not prevent me paying them and all my seniors my respect even to this day.”

It is this link with time past that gives Sir James an aura that envelopes a lifetime of service to the maori people both in war and peace. As he puts it, “I was brought up in an age when our tupuna and elders demanded instant obedience and respect for authority. Whakaiti, or humility, ethics and good manners were part also of our training. For example, out of respect for visitors in the homes and on the marae, the tangata whenua and certainly the children were not permitted to eat until the visitors had eaten. As children and later as young people we were not allowed to speak in front of our elders in a hui. Indeed we were to be seen, and not heard and to use our listening powers. I was taught

that service to one’s fellow man was the greatest reward in life.” Sir James says he was probably old before his time, for generally speaking, he did not play much with other children. He preferred listening to the elders. “My love of my culture was instilled in me at an early age, cultivated i n my attending the last whare wananga of my subtribe Ngatihine. All my cultural background and tuition was eagerly sought by me and freely given by my tutors.” As a boy he lived with Sir Maui and Lady Pomare at their home at Melling and with Sir James and Lady Carroll in Hill Street, handy to the Catholic Basilica.

“Nothing gave me greater pleasure than listening to my father, who was Member of Parliament for Taitokerau and Sir Apirana Ngata, Sir Maui Pomare, Sir Peter Buck and Sir James Carroll discussing matters of great importance to the maori people.”

So it was quite natural to move into the role of service to his people.

“Those of us who were literate in European terms became mouthpieces and channels of communication between our people and the pakeha.”

His own grandparents, and later his father on his death bed, exhorted him never to leave his people and the marae. “I went back to the marae, doing all the usual chores, such as working at the back, looking after toilets and later taking my place on the paepae. Some of my brothers who were not very interested in these things and thought I was mad dubbed me the tohunga and the bishop, because of my deep interest in church matters as well. My grandfather, who was an Anglican minister, once said to me, no man can be a balanced person without a spiritual and religious background. With experience I concur wholeheartedly.”

It was his loyalty to his elders and people that prevented Sir James from accepting overseas appointments. He remembered Sir Apirana saying “only a shag flys off leaving behind his droppings”.

It was this same loyalty and obedience that saw the young Jim Henare being told by his father and grand uncle it was time he was married and his future wife had already been selected.

“My wife and I were betrothed (Puhi) to each other when we were both round about three years of age. Two weeks after I was informed, that it was time to get married, we were wed.”

Sir James spoke highly of his wife and the lifetime of service and support she has given him. She was the one that kept the home fire burning, enabling him to give of himself to the maori people.

The mantle of leadership bestowed upon him by his elders and the people, rests naturally on his shoulders, taking over from where his heroes of the past left off.

And he has definite ideas where the future lies for the maori people.

“We have got to meet the modern world and its technology head on. The only way to do it is by way of the secondary and technical schools, the univer-

sity, the factory floor, the farm, the skilled hands and habits of economy. This is the only road, no matter how winding, stony or pot holey. By it we rise or fall, fail or succeed.

“No longer can the maori people afford to waste its substance for the superficial. We must learn to stand on our own two feet, rather than depend on others, by developing both material and human resources, to better enable us to survive in a predominantly European monetised socio-economic system.

“We must believe and appreciate that among the many qualities indispensable to the progress and success of our people are self knowledge, mastery over our follies and passions, a keen sense of duty and moral obligation. Foremost in the greatness of a person as for a race, is its character.

“Our ability to endure, to perservere, and to be patient, is being tested by the difficult times we are experiencing. With traditional courage, determination and fortitude we shall win through.”

Unemployment, economic and cultural deprivation and social disorientation have created insecurity, confusion, and lack of achievement especially in our young people, said Sir James. “The emergence of a maori renaissance or nationalism is bringing with it

quarrelling and fragmentation of effort. We sometimes become very vocal about our rights but sotto voce about our obligations and responsibilities to ourselves, our families and the wider community. “Let us not dwell for long in bigotry, not temporary political gain, nor in abuse of another section or race. “For in the full tide of life, there is no time for self pity and vain regrets. There is time only for striving, high endeavour and achieving. “Already more positive, things are happening in our society, but we hear very little about them. There are more of our people in top positions of responsibility and decision making.” To recent suggestions made that he could be the next Governor-General, Sir James says he cannot comment, it would be improper for him to speculate as it is entirely a matter for Government and the Queen. “Before we can truly become multicultural we must learn to be bi-cul-tural.” Speaking to young maori trainee journalists recently, Sir James spoke of the heavy responsibility that is there in seeking the truth and presenting a balanced view and the aspirations of

the people. “It is important to present the truth. But equally important is the seeking of it. You are going to experience difficulties over divided loyalties to your own people and your employers. But in the end truth must prevail. Knowledge of your maori language is desirable if you are to penetrate the innermost thoughts of a maori.” Those fluent in the language have a distinct advantage over non-speakers he said. Sir James is a example of a truly bicultural New Zealander, which becomes obvious when listening to him addressing a gathering of people in either maori or English or both. His knowledge of taha maori sits easily besides his taha pakeha. Sir James is one of the last links with the past and its rich history. Because of his leadership and intimate connection with the kaumatua wananga, kohanga reo and whakatauira wananga, he and Dame Te Ata-i-rangikaahu are joint patrons of Kohanga Reo. “I sometimes tell stories to my grandchildren and young people about how we lived and played on the marae. As children we were not permitted in the

meeting house during a hui. “When the cooking was over in the evening, we children would gather around the open fire, spread-out empty kumara sacks, rake the warm ashes on our feet and huddled together for warmth, go to sleep. When the cooks arrive to make breakfast, we have to get up and down to the creek for a wash. If breakfast is late, off to school without it. So breakfast and lunch consisted sometimes of taraire, nikau and titoki berries in season. At meal times three or four children would eat out of a fairly large flax dish. The only cutlery was mussel or toheroa shells. What scruffy urchins we were. “I suspect my grandchildren believe my stories with a grain of salt. “There are times when I long for those carefree days when we lived together as a community, sharing together our joys and sorrows, with a spirit of broad humanity, kindness, aroha and acceptance of responsibility one for each and all for one. “As the hastening years unfold, let us preserve the good that is old and add to it the good that is new, in our march towards an even brighter and more glorious testing. Kia ora ra koutou i raro i te maru o Te Runga Rawa.”

Wherever Sir James Henare goes nowadays, he is surrounded by talk that he is destined to become New Zealand’s first maori Governor-General. He admits that it embarrasses him, but acknowledges that he is stuck with it since Maori Affairs Minister Ben Couch first hinted at the possibility last year. Sir James says he would rather not talk about it publicly, except to say that having lived a life of service to his country and the maori people, he would not shirk any task he felt was his duty.