Henaghan attended school in Timaru and studied law at Otago University. On qualifying he became a teaching fellow, providing advice, helping with submissions, and training Family Court judges. He has never practised in a law firm. He is involved in the Pathways and Transitions Research Project as part of the New Zealand Government funded Resilience Research Project. Henaghan is the second academic to be admitted as an Associate Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The Academy is a worldwide association of practising lawyers who were recognised by their peers as being among the most experienced and skilled family law specialists in their respective countries. His interests have included surfing, cricket, rugby, biking, and skipping. He enjoys attending afternoon movie sessions and once had a cameo role in the New Zealand filmScarfies, as himself.
Publications and papers
Health professionals and trust: The cure for healthcare law and policy. New York: Routledge-Cavendish, 2011.
Relocation cases: The rhetoric and the reality of a child's best interests: A view from the bottom of the world. Child & Family Law Quarterly, 23, pages 226–250
What does a child's right to be heard in legal proceedings really mean? ABA custody standards do not go far enough. Family Law Quarterly, 42, pages 117–129
Relationship property appeals in the New Zealand Court of Appeal 1958–2008: The elusiveness of equality. In R. Bigwood, The permanent New Zealand Court of Appeal: Essays on the first 50 years. Oxford: Henaghan, M., & Peart, N.. Butterworths family law in New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: LexisNexis, Henaghan, M., Atkin, B., Clarkson, D., & Caldwell, J.
Genes, society and the future. Dunedin, New Zealand: Human Genome Research Project, University of Otago, Lawson, D., Henaghan, M., & McLean, S.
Why judges need to know and understand childhood studies. In M. Freeman, Law and childhood studies: Current legal issues 2011 , Oxford University Press,
Discretion, status and money: The essence of family law in New Zealand. In B. Atkin, The international survey of family law: 2011 edition. Bristol, UK: Family Law.
New Zealand: How New Zealand family law deals with power imbalances. In B. Atkin, International survey of family law: 2010 edition. Bristol, UK: Family Law.
The human genome. In I. Freckelton & H. Selby, Appealing to the future: Michael Kirby and his legacy. Sydney, Australia: Thomson Reuters
Achieving economic equality at the end of marriage and other relationships: Not all is fair in love and war. In B. Verschraegen, International family law. Vienna, Austria: Jan Sramek Verlag.
Bioethics and law in action: Mining the gaps: The Human Genome Research Project. In M. Freeman, Law and bioethics: Current legal issues . Oxford University Press.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis: Testing the legal boundaries. In N. Page, Genes, society and the future . Dunedin, New Zealand: Human Genome Research Project, University of Otago. Snelling, J., Peart, N., & Henaghan, M.
Part one: Main findings:. In N. Page, Genes, society and the future . Dunedin, New Zealand: Human Genome Research Project, University of Otago. Henaghan, M..
Legally rearranging families: Parents and children after break up. In M. Henaghan and B. Atkin, Family law policy in New Zealand . Wellington, New Zealand: LexisNexis. Henaghan, M..
Legally defining the family. In M. Henaghan and B. Atkin, Family law policy in New Zealand . Wellington, New Zealand: LexisNexis. Henaghan, M..
The 'Do no harm' principle and the genetic revolution in New Zealand. In McLean, S. A. M., First do no harm: Law, ethics and healthcare. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate. Henaghan, M..
Family law policy in New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: LexisNexis, 367p. Henaghan, M., & Atkin, B...
Choosing genes for future children: Regulating preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Dunedin, New Zealand: Human Genome Research Project, University of Otago, 369p. Henaghan, M...
Delays in the New Zealand civil justice system? Opinion v fact. Otago Law Review, 12, 455–471. Righarts, S., & Henaghan, M..
Children: Heard but not listened to? An analysis of children's views under s 6 of the Care of Children's Act 2004. New Zealand Family Law Journal, 7, 39–52. Robinson, A., & Henaghan, M..
Relocation cases: The rhetoric and the reality of a child's best interests: A view from the bottom of the world. Child & Family Law Quarterly, 23, 226–250. Henaghan, M..
Relocation following parental separation in New Zealand: Complexity and diversity. International Family Law,, 97–105. Taylor, N., Gollop, M., & Henaghan, M..
Public perceptions of the New Zealand court system: An empirical approach to law reform. Otago Law Review, 12, 329–344. Righarts, S., & Henaghan, M..
What does a child's right to be heard in legal proceedings really mean? ABA custody standards do not go far enough. Family Law Quarterly, 42, 117–129. Henaghan, M..
