[5][6] After the failure of the CIPA he worked at various jobs, including as an interpreter for Cook Islanders in New Zealand courts, while studying economics and philosophy.

[6] Henry returned to the Cook Islands in March 1964 at the invitation of the remnant of the CIPA, the Industrial Union of Workers and the co-operative movement.

[9] A three-year residential requirement meant that he could not stand for the legislative Assembly, so his sister Marguerite Story ran in the Te-au-o-Tonga electorate in his place.

[10] The Cook Islands Party won 14 seats in the 1965 election,[10] and immediately amended the constitution to reduce the residency requirement to three months.

[13] The Cook Islands party had proposed the creation of the House of Ariki before self-government,[14] and as Premier Henry oversaw its implementation.

[22] In his second term as Premier Henry made a controversial agreement with the New Zealand government for them to fund an upgrade of Rarotonga International Airport in exchange for control of airspace rights.

[25] A proposal from an American syndicate to lease the island of Aitutaki for a tourist resort and casino[25] fell through, but did result in New Zealand support for greater tourism development.

[26] In 1969 he chaired the annual meeting of the South Pacific Commission which saw island countries take control and elect Harry Moors as secretary-general.

[38] The referendum never happened, as both the government and the opposition supported the status quo,[39] and in the resulting 1974 election the Cook Islands party lost its two-thirds majority, though Henry retained power.

[40] Following the election he announced plans for a constitutional amendment to repatriate the functions of head of state (then performed by New Zealand's High Commissioner),[41] but this was delayed due to his lack of the required two-thirds majority.

[45] Later that year he personally supported Czech-born "cancer therapist" Milan Brych and allowed him to practice in the Cook Islands.

[46][47] In January 1978 Henry called elections six months early in an effort to capitalise on a leadership struggle within the opposition Democratic Party.

[51] The result was a victory for Henry, with the Cook Islands Party regaining its two-thirds majority, and opposition leader Tom Davis losing his seat.

[52] The result was challenged in the courts, and in July 1978 Chief Justice Gaven Donne found that Henry had corruptly used government money to fly in voters and secure a majority.

[57][58] Former philatelic bureau director Finbar Kenny subsequently plead guilty to charges under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act over the incident.