1 July 2008

Media Release

 

Ngati Hine matriarch, Lady Rose Henare passes

Lady Rose Henare, wife of the late Sir James Henare, passed away at home last night in Pukehau aged 96.

Of Ngapuhi, Ngati Whatua, Ngati Hine, Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu descent Lady Rose and Sir James had been betrothed since birth, marrying in 1933. They had six children and fostered a further five.

Described as “superbly capable” Lady Rose Henare provided over 50 years of support to her husband. Her commitment to Maori causes reflected those of her husband, as did her patronage of Te Kohanga Reo movement.

“The passing of Lady Rose is a sad loss to the wider Ngati Hine iwi who also lost their last surviving Maori Battalion member and elder statesman Tamati Paraone earlier this year” says CE of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori (The Maori Language Commission), Huhana Rokx.

Lady Rose was the last surviving widow of a Maori Battalion Commander – her passing ends a connection to an era where traditional Maori leadership, marked by a sense of service to the people, humility and graciousness permeated Maori sensibility of the time, setting an example of leadership that will continue to be revered and aspired to for generations to come.

Lady Rose will lie in state at Otiria Marae in Moerewa. A funeral service will be held on Thursday 3 July, whereupon she will be taken to Motatau for burial.

She is survived by five of her six children including Erima Henare, the Board Chair for Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori. The Board, CE and wider staff thoughts are with the whanau at this time.

Ends

Contact:
Nicky Cockburn Birch
021 475 782
nicky@tetaurawhiri.govt.nz