Henry Davis-Te Maire in Hyde Park, London.
Ngā mate
Henry Joseph Kira Davis-Te Maire 1945-2012.
Born the eldest of four to Harry and Mary Davis-Te Maire, Henry was raised on Māori Road at Waihao. He joined the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) in 1961 as a mechanical engineer (stoker) and saw war service in Malaysia.
Although Henry lived out the majority of his life in Auckland with his beloved Pam, Waihao was always his home and he made sure that he kept up-to-date with all events. Sadly his sudden departure from this mortal world ended his intended journey to return home to the south.
Henry was chosen to go to England to the opening of the Hyde Park Memorial in London with the veterans, a journey that he spoke of on many occasions. He often joked that ‘see a good looking little Māori boy from the pā can do it’, because he was always so proud of his roots.
He also laughingly joked about Kelly not being able to outclass him this time. Insiders will know that this reflected the fact that when HMNZS Blackpool was commissioned they had Henry’s name but Kelly’s number on the manifest list and so Kelly got to go get it instead of him. Not sure that he ever forgave him.
His first posting was on HMNZS Royalist and he was one of the last crew members that returned her to England for decommissioning. His navy life allowed him to see much of this world and to meet other people that as a pā boy he may never have got to.
Being the eldest much was expected of him, but he never complained, he just got on with it. He was a very humble man of great wisdom, courage and honour, who had a love for people that spread far and wide with language being no boundary. His sense of humour and his musical talent were known throughout the world, even Camilla Parker, Bowles the Duchess of Cornwall, commented on this as she recalled his remark to her on meeting him at Hyde Park, ‘This makes this land Kāi Tahu land now, I’ve just claimed it!’ She saw the significance of that statement and was totally amused.
Outside his whānau and his music he had a great passion for cooking, which produced many a dish for friends and whānau because he loved to show off his creations and TR6 cars. No one ever went hungry in his home and if you got him started on his cars you would know all about the good, the bad and the downright rubbish!
Henry and Pam had no children of their own, but speak to his nieces and nephews and they will tell you he had them and they were enough.
Ka maringi noa ngā roimata, kia mamae te manawa.
Kei hea te kauri kua hinga nei te Wao nui a Tane.
Auē taukiri e
Kua wehe atu koe e te tau
kua whetūrangitia
E mau ana mātou
ngā mahara me te aroha
tae noa ki te wā ka tūtaki mātou anō.
‘As the tears fall softly down the cheeks and the heart aches for the loss of a mighty kauri, so graciously you left us, leaving behind a wealth of memories and a love that is never ending. Rest gently until we meet again!’
Henry is so sadly missed!
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