The battle of Kororareka

• BY JASON

Hone Heke Pokai, chief of the Ngapuhi tribe in the north, had been one of the Chiefs to sign the Treaty of Waitangi. He felt that the alternatives to British rule would be either the French or the continuing growth of brothels and rum sellers. The Māori referred to the French as "the tribe of Marion", after the massacre of many Māori by the French following the murder of the explorer Marion du Fresne,

However, Hone Heke soon became disenchanted by what he felt to be not only Government oppression toward Māori, but also the many economic losses for the town when the Government decided to transfer the capital from Kororareka to Auckland.

It was on 8th July 1844, nearly five years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi that the first hostile action took place in the far north in the fifth largest town in the colony of New Zealand, Kororareka. The British flag was raised ceremoniously each morning on a flagstaff at Kororareka, and one night Te Haratua, second in command to Hone Heke, chopped the flagstaff down in protest.

The British re-erected the flagstaff, but it was chopped down again on three further occasions - the second time on 10th January 1845, a third time on 19th January 1845, and then for a fourth and final time on 11th March 1845. In February 1845, after re-erecting the flagstaff for the third time, the British decided to establish a regiment in Kororareka, with one section stationed at the flagpost. A detachment of the 96th regiment, including the sloop "Hazard" were in place, providing a combined force of 140 soldiers, sailors and marines based in Kororareka

On the morning of March 11th 1845, Hone Heke joined forces with another chief, Te Ruki Kawiti, to unite in an attack. The Māori were well equipped with muskets by this time, and the settlers in the far North were the first to experience Māori anger. As Kawiti and his men created a diversion for the British, Hone Heke succeeded in chopping the flagstaff down yet again, for the fourth time. This first attack at Kororareka provoked what became known as "The Flagstaff War".

In spite of preceding events, the British were taken completely by surprise, finding themselves in the uncomfortable position of being outnumbered. During the fierce fighting which followed, the inhabitants of Kororareka were evacuated to the ships anchored in the bay, where they were transferred to Auckland the following day.

Fighting continued all morning, when suddenly the British garrison's reserve ammunition exploded, setting fire to the surrounding buildings. The British were now forced to retreat to their ships, as not only was their ammunition gone, but the Māori were still firmly holding their positions.

Once the inhabitants of Kororareka had all been evacuated, Lieutenant Philpotts, from the sloop "Hazard", ordered the bombardment of Kororareka. The town was subsequently sacked by both British and Māori, both those for and those against the government.

Blue is Maori

flagpole

Flagpole is here

FIGHT TIME

KILL!!!!!

MAJOR DISTRACTIONAND KILL!!!

EPIC WIN !!!!

BRITISH GET OWNED, FLAGPOLE CHOPPED

Ammo department go

BOOM!!

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!%$#@!**%$#

British escape to the boats, Russel is on fire

YAY! THE BRITISH ESCAPE TO THE SHIPS

!#@$%&%$^British try to bomb the Maori to pieces

British flee to Auckland

Battle of Kororareka

By Jason