Walk 45, 2nd Oct 2020
Ruapekapeka Pa is the site of the fourth and last battle of the Flagstaff War, a series of battles between the Ngapuhi tribe and the British. The conflict was between Ngāpuhi chief Hone Heke and the British Crown over how the Treaty of Waitangi was to be interpreted.
The chiefs signed the Treaty in 1840 to end their inter-tribal conflict (see below) but the original intent has been forgotten. (Now there’s confusion over New Zealand’s founding document as it has become heavily politicised.)
Hone Heke ruled at Russell (Kororareka) and owned many slaves. Trouble started when the capital of New Zealand was moved to Auckland (see below) and the Governor-in-Council imposed a customs tariff on staple articles of trade, that resulted in a dramatic fall in the number of whaling ships that visited Kororareka. This caused a serious loss of revenue to Ngāpuhi. Heke then rebelled and he kept chopping down the flagpole at Russell.
The Maori were formidable fighters and the British never really won against Hone Heke. In the case of this fourth battle, Ruapekapeka Pa was taken while the Maori had temporarily left it empty.
After the Flagstaff War, Ngapuhe were left alone and consequently parts of Northland have lagged behind ever since.
The Treaty of Waitangi: On 20 March 1840 in the Manukau Harbour area where Ngāti Whātua farmed, paramount chief Āpihai Te Kawau signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Treaty of Waitangi. Ngāti Whātua sought British protection from Ngāpuhi as well as a reciprocal relationship with the Crown and the Church. Soon after signing the Treaty, Te Kawau offered land on the Waitematā Harbour to William Hobson, the new Governor of New Zealand, for his new capital. Hobson took up the offer and moved the capital of New Zealand to Tāmaki Makaurau, naming the settlement Auckland.
Walk: Northland 13
Related walks
Hone Heke Memorial Park, Kaikohe Hill
Links
NZShortWalks 