Henare Dewes was born in Waipiro Bay on the East Coast. His poetry has been published in Rongo, Te Māori, Te Ao Hou and the NZ Woman’s Weekly. He has also been writing a book called Te Karanga on Māori family life in the urban migration.
Biographical sources
- Into the World of Light: An Anthology of Māori Writing. Ed. Witi Ihimaera and D. S. Long. Auckland, N.Z.: Heinemann, 1982. 197.
Poetry
- "Whakarongo." Rongo 1.1 (1973/74): 11. Rpt. in Into the World of Light: An Anthology of Māori Writing. Ed. Witi Ihimaera and D. S. Long. Auckland, N.Z.: Heinemann, 1982. 196-197.
- The speaker worries about the survival of traditional Māori customs and protocol, and wonders who will teach the younger generations about Māori food-gathering techniques, "te reo Māori/patere and mihi". He also forlornly remembers that nobody listens to him "in this stinking prison."
- "Te Ao Hou." Te Ao Hou 76 (1975): 40. Rpt. in Into the World of Light: An Anthology of Māori Writing. Ed. Witi Ihimaera and D. S. Long. Auckland, N.Z.: Heinemann, 1982. 197.
- The speaker challenges the seeming indifference to the erosion of Māori traditions and customs and the insidious commercialisation of Māori taonga in the tourist industry. He urges Māori to "take up [their] paddles/...[and] hold tight [their] Māoritanga."
- "Tihei Mauriora!" Rongo 1.1 (1973/74): 7. Rpt in Into the World of Light: An Anthology of Māori Writing. Ed. Witi Ihimaera and D. S. Long. Auckland, N.Z.: Heinemann, 1982. 195-196.
- This poem highlights the racial discrimination against Māori in the accommodation industry and in education policies which forbade the speaking of te reo Māori and insisted on Māori accommodation and adoption of Pakeha ways.