Ann (Annie) Henry was born on 25 July 1879 at The Narrows, Riverton, Southland, New Zealand, the daughter of sawmiller Francis Henry and his wife, Catherine McKillop. At age 37 she was sent to work in Ruatāhuna by the Māori Mission Committee of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.
Over the next 33 years, Sister Annie built a close relationship with Ngāi Tūhoe, who called her Hihita. Sister Annie taught and provided pastoral care and nursed during many epidemics:
- Influenza - the Spanish Flu - (1918)
- Whooping cough (1921)
- Typhoid (1924)
- Polio (1925)
In the isolation of Ruatāhuna she was a dentist, lawyer, carpenter, plumber and social worker.
A contemporary of Rev. John Laughton, Sister Annie helped to establish a mission school in Maungapōhatu in 1918. Rua Kēnana developed a mutual respect and friendship with her. She was one of very few Pākehā women allowed into his temple in Maungapōhatu.
Sister Annie retired to Ōhope in 1948.
These items are not currently available online, we're in the process of moving our online collection. If you have any questions about items in our collection related to Sister Annie Henry, please don't hesitate to contact us.
