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Obituary - John Henderson

Champion Outdoors Advocate

John Henderson, known to his friends as "JBH", recently passed away bringing down the curtain on a life that unselfishly, untiringly, devoted decades to fighting political battles for New Zealand's outdoors, the environment and society.

I first met John in the mid-1950-s when he took me on hunting trips into the Tararuas and trout fishing on the Makuri Stream and others. I was privileged. 

In his advocacy years, he became national president of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, chairman of the conservation council COENCO, served on acclimatisation society councils and other outdoor sporting organisations such as the NZ Federation of Rifle, Rod and Gun Sportsmen and Save Manapouri.

Underlying the arguments was an intelligent man, who attained, 90 percent of a science degree but completion was prevented by his father's sudden death and the urgent need to take over the family printing business.

A devoted husband, father and grandfather he loved horses, almost became a jockey and trainer and was adept on the piano. He enjoyed writing humorous verse which he laughingly termed "doggerel'.  In later years he loved being down the Marlborough Sounds at the family property.        

A true gentleman, as a public advocate, he was never brash or bombastic. In personality JBH was modest but with a quick sense of humour. Underneath lay a steely resolve, that was not just about getting wild deer and hunting seen in a positive light, but also the bigger picture of the total environment.  He was often "20 years ahead of the present" with his foresight and perception and back in the 1970s, spoke on crucial issues like population growth and a population limit for New Zealand.  Invited, he addressed international wildlife conventions in Finland, USA, Australia and Europe.

As national president of NZ Deerstalkers Association, John delivered strong and stirring conference addresses. In one he accused governments and departments of "dereliction of duty" and  "many glaring cases of deceit."  In a 1972 address "Man and his Environment" John urged his audience at Wellington's Victoria University Winter Term Lecture Series to political awareness and action and to "never be duped into believing that politics and the environment are other than cause and effect."

He took on governments for faulty policy and in particular, a 1970s senior cabinet minister Duncan McIntyre for selling public lands to a rich American who wanted to exploit the trout fishing and hunting.

Sea fisheries mismanagement and trout farming were big issues too with John's debating skills incisive and directed to the core of the issue.   

A meticulous and skilled master printer by trade, gentleman and sportsman, he always took a factual line pointing out the deceptions of the government's way and never made personal attacks. Politicians could not cope. One senior National government cabinet minister always refused to debate against John. Sir Robert Muldoon on his Radio Windy talkback show banned John Henderson from participating!

At much personal sacrifice, John Henderson made an incredible contribution as an advocate for the outdoors, the environment and a rational planned society. He declined to be awarded a New Years Honour such was his modesty. Yet he had his critics too and incredibly some were in outdoor ranks too!

The words of a US president Theodore Roosevelt fittingly also an avid outdoorsman, epitomise John Henderson's commitment and judges the critics.

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though chequered by failure than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in that grey twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."

John Henderson was and is an inspiration to all New Zealanders who love fishing, hunting and the environment.

- Tony Orman