Henare promises to be good

Tau Henare

Tau Henare won the hearts and votes of National's Auckland members by promising to bring a bit of "mongrel" to its caucus.

But when it comes to his aspirations around a second stint in Parliament, he appears to have put himself on a good behaviour bond.

The signs are he would have a good chance of winning back his old Minister of Maori Affairs job if National forms the next Government. But if that's what he's after, he's not letting on.

"Absolutely not. I'm focused on being a bloody good MP for our members and repaying the faith that the ranking committee have had. If Don Brash wants me behind the end of a broom, that's the job I'll do."

The former New Zealand First MP who stayed on to prop up National in Government when leader Winston Peters walked out of the coalition has been almost guaranteed a seat in Parliament after the election.

He was ranked 29 on National's list when it was completed at the weekend, the fourth highest ranked candidate outside sitting MPs and the top ranked from the Auckland region.

Unlike Rangitoto College principal Allan Peachey - given the No. 30 slot and the safe National seat of Tamaki - Mr Henare isn't expected to take the Te Atatu seat from Labour MP Chris Carter, so needs a high list ranking to get in.

National has only one MP who identifies as Maori, Georgina te Heuheu - but president Judy Kirk and he bristle over suggestions that's why he's done so well.

His political experience and his loyalty won the slot for him, she says.

And referring to his experience and those of two former National MPs also standing again, she noted at the weekend that the list had been carefully selected to ensure the party could put together a Cabinet.

The "loyalty" reference is, of course, designed to counter any rehashing of the waka-jumping accusations.

After NZ First went into coalition with Jim Bolger-led National in 1996, Mr Henare was taunted for earlier saying he would not be part of a Government "in which Jim Bolger is the prime minister".

After splitting from NZ First, Mr Henare formed Mauri Pacific before joining National, which he stood for in the last election.

Mr Henare believes the party needs more MPs who are "not afraid to take the fight to the Labour Party".

That's why he promised members a bit of mongrel when the regional list was drawn up in Auckland last month.

"I think they [National MPs] were gun-shy after the last election because they got such a hiding. But they are starting to pick up."

Mr Henare says he has missed the cut and thrust of Parliament over the six years he's been away working as a radio talkback host and an early childhood education consultant.

Politics is in his blood, and conservative politics at that, he says, referring to great-grandfather Taurekareka (Tau) Henare, who entered Parliament in 1914 as a member of the conservative Reform Party in 1914 and stayed for 24 years.

As a teenager Mr Henare regularly listened to parliamentary debates and on visits to Wellington would regularly sneak into the House to observe them.

If anything has changed since 1999, it's that his opinions on reducing the influence of the "nanny state" have got stronger and he's a little wiser.

Is this why he's so circumspect about what job he wants?

"I know how to hold my tongue."

As a MP who'll get in off the list, his allegiance is to the party rather than an electorate, which also changes things, he says.

The Dirty Dog sunglasses? Only the media asks about them, he sighs.

"I lost them ages ago. I haven't worn sunglasses for a long time. I grew up."

He hasn't talked to Mr Peters for several years, and "has his own views" about his former boss.

But he'll always be thankful for the chances Mr Peters gave him and "I'd work with anybody that our party determined would be our coalition partner. If it means working with Winston, so be it."

Mrs Kirk told National Radio yesterday: "He has an absolute commitment to the National Party."

Mr Henare stood for National at the last election but this time would be successful, Mrs Kirk said.

"He feels very passionate about education and he wants to be part of a government that puts that right.

"We have not brought him in because he is just Maori, no. He brings experience that is needed.

"I've talked to people who worked with him the past in the National Party and they've said he makes a fantastic contribution."

- additional reporting: NZPA