He moved to New Zealand in the 1870s, settling in the south-west at Lake Te Anau in 1883 where he worked as a handyman, rabbiter, shepherd, taxidermist, boat-builder, explorer and guide, while studying the birdlife.
By 1891 public and governmental concern that introduced mustelids were having a devastating effect on New Zealand's birdlife led to the gazettal of Resolution Island in Fiordland as a reserve.
Over this period he transported numerous flightless birds, including kākāpō, weka and kiwi to Resolution Island, with the hope that they would be safe there.
In 1908 increasing concern about Henry's welfare, due to his age and his isolated position on Resolution, led to his being offered the caretakership of Kapiti Island, a post which he accepted and occupied for the next three years, eventually retiring from government service in 1911.
[3] A male kākāpō, captured in Fiordland in 1975, and at that point the only remaining member of the species originating from the South Island, was named "Richard Henry" in his memory.