Unfaltering devotion to land and people: RIP Sir Henare Ngata FCA
The son of Sir Apirana Ngata, the most charismatic Maori leader of the last century, Sir Henare Ngata FCA made his mark on Maoridom in his own right with his work on the development of Maori land throughout the district.
After being educated at Te Aute College and Victoria University, Sir Henare, like most of his generation, was thrust into World War 2 and spent four years as a prisoner after the fall of Greece.
His return to Gisborne and his young wife Lorna, whom he had married only months before sailing overseas, saw him launch a career of dedication and service.
The first Maori accountant at a time when there were few Maori businessmen, he started his own business and clients beat a path to his door.
But it was in the area of land development that Sir Henare has left an indelible mark on this district. [Gisborne.] Although holding large areas of land, Maori farmers were unable to get the finance needed to develop their properties.
Appointed to the board of the Mangatu Incorporation in 1959, he served as its chairman for 13 years. As well as the highly successful Mangatu Blocks, he chaired a number of other incorporations.
His devotion to the land never faltered. He played a large part in the decision of the Tairawhiti Development Taskforce to make unproductive Maori land the target of its first major regional initiative.
An officer in C Company of 28 (Maori) Battalion, he retained a keen interest in the welfare of his fellow veterans.
Sir Henare was knighted in 1982.
A quietly spoken and extremely dignified man, he was an authority on many things Maori including the all-important Treaty of Waitangi and the later foreshore and seabed issue.
At the death of Sir Apirana Ngata one editorial writer was moved to say that a great kauri had fallen in the path of Maori development. Another kauri now falls with the passing of his son
This article was published with the permission of The Gisborne Herald, where it appeared on 12 December 2011. Sir Henare died on 11 December 2011 at the age of 93.
February 2012