Battle of Kororāreka
Kororāreka (Russell), Bay of Islands, New Zealand
What happened
Ngāpuhi warriors led by Hōne Heke and Te Ruki Kawiti fought British soldiers, sailors and armed settlers. Hōne Heke was angry about how the Treaty of Waitangi was working out, including the move of the capital to Auckland and taxes that cost his people trade. He had cut down the British flagstaff above the town several times as a protest. On 11 March 1845 his warriors attacked; after the defenders' powder store exploded, the British left by ship and the town burned.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the start of the Flagstaff War, one of the first of the New Zealand Wars. In the end, British control of the north stayed limited.
What came next
Fighting went on at Puketutu, Ōhaeawai and Ruapekapeka. In 1846 Heke and Kawiti were pardoned and no Ngāpuhi land was taken.
Did you know?
The government never put the flagstaff back up; a fifth was raised in January 1858 at the direction of Maihi Paraone Kawiti.
Timeline
- 8 July 1844The flagstaff on Maiki Hill is first cut down.
- 11 March 1845Battle of Kororāreka.
- 8 May 1845Battle of Puketutu.
- 11 January 1846British forces take Ruapekapeka pā.