Henry Family of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The Henry family migrated to New Zealand
from Scotland
in the 1870s. In New Zealand they played a major role in forestry, industry, law and philanthropy.
They had originally worked as foresters and timbermillers in their homeland and buttressed by their staunch Presbyterian faith and a regimented ethic for hardwork, they established what was to become one of New Zealand's largest industrial enterprises.
The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
recognises the Henry family as being one of the three great Scottish industrialist families that settled in New Zealand in the 19th Century. The others were the Fletchers (founders of Fletcher Construction, see James Fletcher (industrialist)
) and the Todds (founders of Todd Motor Company and Todd Petroleum, see Todd Corporation Ltd
).
(NZFP) was New Zealand's largest industrial company from its creation (following the consolidation of the New Zealand timbermilling sector) in 1936 until the privatisation of state-owned Telecom New Zealand
in 1990.
The Henrys on arriving in New Zealand founded a timbermilling operation near Riverton
in Southland
. By the 1930s they had expanded with several other operations around the country and were responsible for processing felled logs into timber for export.
In 1936 there was substantial consolidation in the New Zealand timber industry when the Henry's milling assets were combined with those of New Zealand Perpetual Forests, a bond-selling forestry company that had gone bankrupt with 150,000 hectares of plantations. Sir David Henry
KBE was responsible for negotiations and this saw the creation of New Zealand Forest Products (NZFP).
The Hon. Sir Trevor Henry
graduated from law school at the University of Auckland
in 1922 and went on to found the Auckland law firm Wilson Henry which continues as Hesketh Henry. He was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of New Zealand
in 1955 and was knighted in 1971 for his services to Her Majesty's legal system.
His son, the Rt Hon Sir John Henry
KNZM QC followed his father into the law and was senior partner of Wilson Henry for many years before he was appointed Queen's Counsel
. He continued in private practice as a barrister until 1984 when he was appointed to the bench of the High Court of New Zealand
. He was later appointed a Privy Counsellor (see Privy Council of the United Kingdom
), and was knighted as a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
in 2001.
Another brother, Clive Henry
, also graduated in law from the University of Auckland
and went on to found the Hamilton legal firm of Harkness Henry which continues. He was a key figure in the Waikato legal community and provided the future Dame Sylvia Cartwright PCNZM (former Governor General of New Zealand) with her first job.
Brian Henry
graduated from the University of Canterbury
in 1973 and became a senior partner at Wilson Henry in Auckland (now Hesketh Henry) before establishing his own practice as a barrister. He has maintained a high public profile, undertaking major litigation including the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Taxation (commonly referred to as the "Winebox Inquiry
"), being successful in the subsequent Judicial Review of the Winebox Inquiry, representing directors in litigation following the collapse of the Equiticorp conglomerate in 1987, and pro bono work such as representing victims of the RSA murders in their litigation against the New Zealand Parole Board and Polynesian immigrant families who were the victims of unscrupulous buyback financial schemes).
The most well known member of the family is Sir David Henry KBE. He used his business success in Auckland, which had become the commercial heart of New Zealand by the 1930s, to become involved with a range of organisations. This included the Rotary Club of Auckland, becoming its President, the Boy Scouts’ Association, and the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). He was a member of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association which led to his election as President of the National Manufacturers' Association. He also stood for public office and was elected a Councillor of the Auckland City Council
from 1931–33. He believed passionately in education, endowing in 1956 a forestry scholarship bearing his name to provide overseas training for employees of NZFP. On his death he left a substantial Trust to the Auckland Presbyterian Orphanages and Social Service Association. The funding provided by this Trust with later contributions from the Henry family and other sources continues as Presbyterian Support, one of New Zealand's largest charitable organisations.
An earlier and less well-known member of the family was Sister Annie Henry MBE JP. Originally a teacher she graduated from Deaconess College in 1920 and devoted her life to the education and betterment of the Maori people as a missionary in the Urewera Ranges of New Zealand. She was a pioneer of indigenous issues. Several Maori became prominent ministers in the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand as a result of her work. [from Dictionary of NZ]
The Hon. Sir Trevor Henry was a justice in the Supreme Court of New Zealand
and was also involved following his retirement in a number of public service roles including being Chairman of the War Pensions Review Board, a member of the New Zealand Parole Board and a member of the New Zealand Olympic Games Selection Committee of 1936.
The most public face of the family today is Brian Henry, but this public profile is limited to the large pro bono legal cases that his corporate legal practice handles. He was involved as legal counsel for Winston Peters in the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Taxation that was established in 1990 to hear allegations of widespread tax fraud in New Zealand during the 1980s, the so-called "Winebox Inquiry
." Other prominent New Zealanders to be involved in this case include the merchant bankers Sir Michael Fay and David Richwhite
(of the NZ investment bank Fay Richwhite
). Other large pro bono legal cases undertaken include representing Susan Couch in suing the New Zealand Parole Board following the RSA murders, and representing Polynesian immigrants who lost their homes in controversial buyback financial schemes.
The family has also now established a capital management business, Goldman Henry Capital (http://www.goldmanhenry.com), which raises funds from the New Zealand investing public under prospectus to invest in various international investment vehicles.
Very little is known about the next generation of the family apart from biographical references and rare media mentions. In 1993 for instance, it was reported in newspapers and in Ian Wishart's book, the Paradise Conspiracy, that David Henry, Brian Henry's son, was the subject of a failed kidnap attempt from the King's School
).
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in the 1870s. In New Zealand they played a major role in forestry, industry, law and philanthropy.
They had originally worked as foresters and timbermillers in their homeland and buttressed by their staunch Presbyterian faith and a regimented ethic for hardwork, they established what was to become one of New Zealand's largest industrial enterprises.
The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966)
An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand was an official encyclopedia about New Zealand, published by the New Zealand Government in 1966. The editor was Dr Alexander Hare McLintock, the parliamentary historian, who was assisted by two others. The encyclopedia included articles written by 359 other authors...
recognises the Henry family as being one of the three great Scottish industrialist families that settled in New Zealand in the 19th Century. The others were the Fletchers (founders of Fletcher Construction, see James Fletcher (industrialist)
James Fletcher (industrialist)
Sir James Fletcher was a New Zealand industrialist who founded Fletcher Construction, one of the country's largest firms. His son, Sir James Fletcher Junior, continued to build the corporation.-Early life:...
) and the Todds (founders of Todd Motor Company and Todd Petroleum, see Todd Corporation Ltd
Todd Corporation Ltd
Todd Corporation is a New Zealand company owned and controlled by the Todd family and based in Wellington. The corporation is controlled by John D. Todd its chairman who according to Forbes Magazine is New Zealand's first billion dollar company. John D...
).
New Zealand Forest Products
New Zealand Forest ProductsNew Zealand Forest Products
New Zealand Forest Products was New Zealand's largest industrial company from its creation in 1936 until the privatisation of state-owned Telecom New Zealand in 1990...
(NZFP) was New Zealand's largest industrial company from its creation (following the consolidation of the New Zealand timbermilling sector) in 1936 until the privatisation of state-owned Telecom New Zealand
Telecom New Zealand
Telecom New Zealand is a New Zealand-wide communications service provider , providing fixed line telephone services, a mobile network, an internet service provider , a major ICT provider to NZ businesses , and a wholesale network infrastructure provider to other NZ CSPs...
in 1990.
The Henrys on arriving in New Zealand founded a timbermilling operation near Riverton
Riverton, New Zealand
Riverton or Aparima is a small town at the south of the South Island of New Zealand. It is in the Southland region and lies at the western end of Oreti Beach, 30 kilometres west of Invercargill on the Southern Scenic Route. It is approx. 45 km from Stewart Island and provides a safe harbour...
in Southland
Southland
-Australia:* Westfield Southland, a large retail complex located in the suburb of Cheltenham, approximately 16 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD in Australia-Canada:* Greater Toronto Area...
. By the 1930s they had expanded with several other operations around the country and were responsible for processing felled logs into timber for export.
In 1936 there was substantial consolidation in the New Zealand timber industry when the Henry's milling assets were combined with those of New Zealand Perpetual Forests, a bond-selling forestry company that had gone bankrupt with 150,000 hectares of plantations. Sir David Henry
David Henry (New Zealand)
Sir David Henry, KBE was a Scottish-born New Zealand industrialist, company director, and philanthropist.- Biography :Henry was born at Juniper Green, Midlothian, Scotland...
KBE was responsible for negotiations and this saw the creation of New Zealand Forest Products (NZFP).
Law
Following the family's success in becoming one of New Zealand's leading industrialists, several members of the Henry extended family became involved in law, playing a pivotal role over several generations.The Hon. Sir Trevor Henry
Trevor Henry
Sir Trevor Ernest Henry was a New Zealand justice and member of the well known Henry family.Henry was born in Thames in 1902 and was the son of John and Edith Henry. He was the eldest of the three sons who include Jack Henry and Clive Henry...
graduated from law school at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
in 1922 and went on to found the Auckland law firm Wilson Henry which continues as Hesketh Henry. He was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of New Zealand
Supreme Court of New Zealand
The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the highest court and the court of last resort in New Zealand, having formally come into existence on 1 January 2004. The court sat for the first time on 1 July 2004. It replaced the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, based in London...
in 1955 and was knighted in 1971 for his services to Her Majesty's legal system.
His son, the Rt Hon Sir John Henry
John Henry (New Zealand Justice)
Sir John Steele Henry, KNZM, QC, is a New Zealand jurist and former Court of Appeal judge, and member of the well-known Henry Family.The son of former High Court judge, the Hon...
KNZM QC followed his father into the law and was senior partner of Wilson Henry for many years before he was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. He continued in private practice as a barrister until 1984 when he was appointed to the bench of the High Court of New Zealand
High Court of New Zealand
The High Court of New Zealand is a superior court of New Zealand. It was established in 1841 and known as the Supreme Court of New Zealand until 1980....
. He was later appointed a Privy Counsellor (see Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
), and was knighted as a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
in 2001.
Another brother, Clive Henry
Clive Henry
Francis Clive Henry was a prominent solicitor in the Waikato of New Zealand and a member of the well-known Henry Family ....
, also graduated in law from the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
and went on to found the Hamilton legal firm of Harkness Henry which continues. He was a key figure in the Waikato legal community and provided the future Dame Sylvia Cartwright PCNZM (former Governor General of New Zealand) with her first job.
Brian Henry
Brian Henry (New Zealand)
Brian Phillip Henry is a well-known New Zealand barrister and an industrialist heir of the Henry Family.He was born in the New Zealand milling town of Tokoroa, where his father Jack Henry was the Resident Director at New Zealand Forest Products Kinleith Mill.In 1973, he graduated with an LLB from...
graduated from the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in 1973 and became a senior partner at Wilson Henry in Auckland (now Hesketh Henry) before establishing his own practice as a barrister. He has maintained a high public profile, undertaking major litigation including the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Taxation (commonly referred to as the "Winebox Inquiry
Winebox Inquiry
The Winebox Inquiry was an inquiry undertaken in New Zealand to investigate claims of corruption and incompetence in the Serious Fraud Office and Inland Revenue Department ....
"), being successful in the subsequent Judicial Review of the Winebox Inquiry, representing directors in litigation following the collapse of the Equiticorp conglomerate in 1987, and pro bono work such as representing victims of the RSA murders in their litigation against the New Zealand Parole Board and Polynesian immigrant families who were the victims of unscrupulous buyback financial schemes).
Philanthropy and community involvement
In keeping with their role as one of New Zealand's largest industrialist families, the Henry's became philanthropists. Their focus on charity and giving reflected their Presbyterian faith. This continues in different guises.The most well known member of the family is Sir David Henry KBE. He used his business success in Auckland, which had become the commercial heart of New Zealand by the 1930s, to become involved with a range of organisations. This included the Rotary Club of Auckland, becoming its President, the Boy Scouts’ Association, and the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). He was a member of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association which led to his election as President of the National Manufacturers' Association. He also stood for public office and was elected a Councillor of the Auckland City Council
Auckland City Council
Auckland City Council was the local government authority representing Auckland City, New Zealand, and was amalgamated into the Auckland Council on 1 November 2010. It was an elected body representing the 404,658 residents of the city...
from 1931–33. He believed passionately in education, endowing in 1956 a forestry scholarship bearing his name to provide overseas training for employees of NZFP. On his death he left a substantial Trust to the Auckland Presbyterian Orphanages and Social Service Association. The funding provided by this Trust with later contributions from the Henry family and other sources continues as Presbyterian Support, one of New Zealand's largest charitable organisations.
An earlier and less well-known member of the family was Sister Annie Henry MBE JP. Originally a teacher she graduated from Deaconess College in 1920 and devoted her life to the education and betterment of the Maori people as a missionary in the Urewera Ranges of New Zealand. She was a pioneer of indigenous issues. Several Maori became prominent ministers in the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand as a result of her work. [from Dictionary of NZ]
The Hon. Sir Trevor Henry was a justice in the Supreme Court of New Zealand
Supreme Court of New Zealand
The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the highest court and the court of last resort in New Zealand, having formally come into existence on 1 January 2004. The court sat for the first time on 1 July 2004. It replaced the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, based in London...
and was also involved following his retirement in a number of public service roles including being Chairman of the War Pensions Review Board, a member of the New Zealand Parole Board and a member of the New Zealand Olympic Games Selection Committee of 1936.
The modern family
The Henry family have often been described as reserved and they continue to shun publicity. Following the hostile takeover of NZFP, the family have largely retreated from the public business community and have maintained an even lower public profile. Much of their activities are now believed to be based in Australia, headquartered in Brisbane, but they still retain business interests in New Zealand and remain large land owners.The most public face of the family today is Brian Henry, but this public profile is limited to the large pro bono legal cases that his corporate legal practice handles. He was involved as legal counsel for Winston Peters in the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Taxation that was established in 1990 to hear allegations of widespread tax fraud in New Zealand during the 1980s, the so-called "Winebox Inquiry
Winebox Inquiry
The Winebox Inquiry was an inquiry undertaken in New Zealand to investigate claims of corruption and incompetence in the Serious Fraud Office and Inland Revenue Department ....
." Other prominent New Zealanders to be involved in this case include the merchant bankers Sir Michael Fay and David Richwhite
David Richwhite
David MacKellar Richwhite is a New Zealand investment banker and was a partner in Fay, Richwhite & Company with Sir Michael Fay.Educated at King's College, Auckland and the University of Otago, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Richwhite's personal wealth was largely acquired...
(of the NZ investment bank Fay Richwhite
Fay Richwhite
Fay, Richwhite & Company is the investment vehicle of Switzerland-based New Zealand merchant bankers Sir Michael Fay and David Richwhite.The firm was the prime focus of the "Winebox Inquiry" which dealt with, among other things, tax-avoidance arrangements in the Cook Islands...
). Other large pro bono legal cases undertaken include representing Susan Couch in suing the New Zealand Parole Board following the RSA murders, and representing Polynesian immigrants who lost their homes in controversial buyback financial schemes.
The family has also now established a capital management business, Goldman Henry Capital (http://www.goldmanhenry.com), which raises funds from the New Zealand investing public under prospectus to invest in various international investment vehicles.
Very little is known about the next generation of the family apart from biographical references and rare media mentions. In 1993 for instance, it was reported in newspapers and in Ian Wishart's book, the Paradise Conspiracy, that David Henry, Brian Henry's son, was the subject of a failed kidnap attempt from the King's School
King's School (Auckland)
King's School is a primary school for boys from Years 1 to 8 . It is situated in Auckland, New Zealand, and it also has strong links to the Anglican church; the Anglican Bishop of Auckland and the Dean of Auckland are permanent members of the school's Board Of Governors...
).
Notable Family Members
- Sir David HenryDavid Henry (New Zealand)Sir David Henry, KBE was a Scottish-born New Zealand industrialist, company director, and philanthropist.- Biography :Henry was born at Juniper Green, Midlothian, Scotland...
KBE - Forestry Industrialist, Founder of New Zealand Forest Products - Sister Annie Henry MBE JP - New Zealand Presbyterian Missionary
- Hon. Sir Trevor HenryTrevor HenrySir Trevor Ernest Henry was a New Zealand justice and member of the well known Henry family.Henry was born in Thames in 1902 and was the son of John and Edith Henry. He was the eldest of the three sons who include Jack Henry and Clive Henry...
- Supreme Court Justice, Founder of law firm Hesketh Henry - Clive HenryClive HenryFrancis Clive Henry was a prominent solicitor in the Waikato of New Zealand and a member of the well-known Henry Family ....
- Solicitor and Founder of law firm Harkness Henry - Jack HenryJack Henry (New Zealand)Jack Ewen Henry was a New Zealand industrialist and company director, and a member of the well-known Henry Family.-Early life:Jack Henry was born in Rotorua New Zealand in June 1917 to John and Edith Henry...
- Forestry Industrialist, Company Director - Rt Hon Sir John HenryJohn Henry (New Zealand Justice)Sir John Steele Henry, KNZM, QC, is a New Zealand jurist and former Court of Appeal judge, and member of the well-known Henry Family.The son of former High Court judge, the Hon...
KNZM QC - New Zealand Court of Appeal Justice, Privy Councillor - Brian HenryBrian Henry (New Zealand)Brian Phillip Henry is a well-known New Zealand barrister and an industrialist heir of the Henry Family.He was born in the New Zealand milling town of Tokoroa, where his father Jack Henry was the Resident Director at New Zealand Forest Products Kinleith Mill.In 1973, he graduated with an LLB from...
- Barrister, Chairman of Goldman Henry Capital - David Henry Junior - Merchant Banker