Henare, Tau (1960-…), a Māori political leader, served in New Zealand’s Parliament from 1993 to 1999. From 1993 to 1998, Henare was a member of the New Zealand First party. New Zealand First formed a coalition government with the National Party after elections in 1996. When the coalition collapsed in August 1998, Henare left New Zealand First and became an independent member of Parliament (MP). He set up a new political party, Mauri Pacific, in October 1998. Henare and other Mauri Pacific MP’s supported the National Party government, thus allowing it to retain power until elections in November 1999. In those elections, a coalition of the Labour and Alliance parties gained control of the government, and no Mauri Pacific candidates were elected. Henare joined the National Party in 2000 and was an unsuccessful National candidate for Parliament in the 2002 elections. Mauri Pacific ceased to exist in December 2001.
Henare was first elected as an MP for the seat of Northern Māori in 1993 and re-elected in 1996 for the new electorate seat of Te Tai Tokerau. He was deputy leader of the New Zealand First party from 1993 to 1998. From 1997 to 1999, Henare was minister of Māori Affairs. At various times between 1997 and 1999, he also served as associate minister of education; associate minister of corrections; minister for racing; and associate minister for sport, fitness and leisure.
Henare has also worked in community development. He was advisory officer in Māori Development for the Waitakere City Council, on the North Island of New Zealand, a youth education coordinator for the Race Relations Conciliator, and an advisory officer for the department of Internal Affairs. Tau Henare was born in Auckland, on the North Island of New Zealand.
