Tau Henare
Henare's great-grandfather, Taurekareka (Tau) Hēnare,[2] served in Parliament from 1914 to 1938 alongside notable Māori politicians such as Āpirana Ngata, James Carroll and Māui Pōmare.[2] Also, at the age of 25, Henare was arrested for breaking through a police line and laying a wreath for the Māori Battalion during a royal visit on Anzac Day in 1985."[8]In connection with Winston Peters (himself Māori) establishing the New Zealand First party in July 1993,[9] Henare changed the focus of his activities to politics for the 6 November 1993 election.In December 1994, Northern Maori member of parliament Henare supported Māori tribe's paramount chief Sir Hepi Te Heuheu in Heuheu's refusal to attend a meeting with then Prime Minister Jim Bolger for a roundtable discussion on government proposals to settle Māori claims, reasoning that the government's handling of Maori claims indicated a lack of understanding of the gravity of the issues involved and the meeting would be a public relations exercise.[12] Henare felt that United Nations scrutiny would ensure justice in the face of past treaty breaches and that the Government's forceful approach did not create future resentment.In 2009, Henare was additionally appointed deputy chairperson of the select committee considering legislative changes following the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance.[15] In response to reaction to the email, Henare made a number of challenging remarks about Māori Party co-leader Pita Sharples.The wedding celebrant was fellow MP Chris Auchinvole, Paula Bennett spoke, and Parekura Horomia gave the mihi (formal speech).[20] The Māori Party said they were not responsible for the failure of his bid, they were simply canvassing whether it was likely he would be appointed Speaker, and that ultimately they believed that Henare did not have the support.[21] In April 2014, Henare announced his intention to retire from politics at the 2014 general election, influenced by an expected low list placing.[22] Henare appeared in Henderson District Court in December 2014 charged with knowingly breaching suppression orders under the Criminal Procedure Act.