Consequences of ruapekapeka. Oct 14, 2009 · Plan_of_ruapekapeka_pa.

Consequences of ruapekapeka Heke and Kawiti had escaped with their forces largely intact, and the terms of Jan 10, 2016 · In Northland, 500 people have attended a dawn service to remember the battle of Ruapekapeka Pa. It was the start of three days of Despard and Grey announced that Ruapekapeka had been “taken by assault” and that the outcome was a “brilliant success” for the British. Debate soon raged as to whether the fortress had been deliberately abandoned or captured. Artillery fire was a real problem because the pā sloped downwards to the west and the north. Kororāreka on 10 March 1845, the day before it was destroyed. Jul 23, 2022 · The inconclusive outcome at Ruapekapeka offered both sides a way out. After his initial Oct 5, 2025 · The historic event brought together performers from the descendants of Ruapekapeka, the Waikato Wars: Ōrākau, Rangiriri, Te Tai Rāwhiti: Waerenga-a-Hika, and 200 kaihaka from Te Whakatōhea ranging in ages from 4 years old to the oldest performer being 68. In December 1845, just five The Stories of Ruapekapeka, a documentary highlighting Northland's most infamous armed conflict, is hosted by RNZ's Māori Issues Correspondent Mihingarangi Forbes, and was made alongside Great Southern Television with funding from NZ on Air. Heke’s fourth attack upon the flagstaff was to have dire consequences for the town of Kororārkea, and was the event, which marked the beginning of the Northern War. After their experience at Ōhaeawai the British were wary about attacking the pā directly. The Māori warriors were fighting for their rights guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi). Heke and Kawiti had escaped with their forces largely intact, and the terms of the subsequent peace settlement suggest that they had won a strategic victory. Te Ruapekapeka is a wahi tapu or sacred site, steeped in historical relevance. Oct 26, 2017 · We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Site of Ruapekapeka Pa, now part of historic and scenic reserve. After 1846 the Crown turned its back on the north, which was left to become a backwater as the rest of the New Zealand economy boomed The Flagstaff War with the capture of Ruapekapeka was a significant conflict that took place during the early colonization of New Zealand by the British. Governor Grey himself was present during the bombardment, having traveled from Auckland. Oct 7, 2024 · The Battle of Ruapekapeka Pā marked the end of the Flagstaff War. The first major conflict was the war in the north, precipitated when Hōne Heke cut down the flagpole at Russell as a protest against the effects of British colonisation. NZ Wars - The Stories of Ruapekapeka - Five years after the Treaty of Waitangi's signing, tension between British and Māori was at boiling point. The capture of Te Ruapekapeka (11 January 1846) T he following day on 11 January 1845, a Sunday, a reconnaissance party of Nene’s men found the pā to be virtually deserted. There were almost no substantial buildings behind its twin palisades, instead, shelter consisted of a series of tunnels, pits and bomb-proof bunkers. The 5. You can still see the remains of its earthworks today. https://youtu. Its opening shots marked the beginning of the wider North Island conflicts that are often referred to as the New Zealand Wars. T he Battle of Te Ruapekapeka was the last of a series of clashes collectively known as The Northern War (1845-6). He expressed his outrage by repeatedly attacking the flagstaff on the hill above Kororāreka (Russell). 1 “1000 men were occupied a full month in advancing 15 miles and in getting possession of a pah from which the enemy escaped at the last moment, and escaped with the satisfaction to him of a drawn battle. From the last days of 1845, a British force of about 1300 soldiers, sailors, marines and militia, with 400 Māori allies, confronted a well-fortified pā occupied by about 500 fighters led by the chiefs Kawiti and Hōne Heke (who arrived with reinforcements in early January). Kioda, I’m Mahinarangi Forbes. With only a short drive north along State Highway 1 from Whangarei, everyone is invited to enjoy one of New Zealand's significant historical destinations. The old site just south of Kawakawa is a special place for one 19-year-old. The histories are well remembered, and many Ngāpuhi today can recount stories of their own ancestors during the Northern War. Journalist Mihingarangi Forbes visits Māori Fusion artist Riqi Harawira has released a music video which draws on footage from NZ Wars: The Stories of Ruapekapeka and is funded by Te Māngai Pāho. It was an armed response to the Treaty of Waitangi, seeking to prevent the erosion of Maori mana. Many on the British side also realised how difficult it would be to keep fighting. The Prequel Video or Waitiangi video (A version of the story, Well Pretty Much. After a bombardment by British artillery, Kawiti and his men abandoned the pā in January 1846. Listen to a Roadside Story about Kawiti's pā. Jun 11, 2012 · This plan of the pā of Ngāpuhi leader Te Ruki Kawiti at Te Ruapekapeka was based on sketches made by military officers after the battle to document the extent and nature of the defences. Eventually, after some time, a peace was forged between the two sides. In New Zealand, as an early geographer put it, ‘a land without people waited for a people without land’. Oct 25, 2017 · The battle of Ruapekapeka, fought in January 1846, was the final engagement in the war that Britain lost, as James Belich famously described it. A Russian soldier depicted using the Congreve rocket The Congreve rocket was a type of rocket artillery designed by British And this occupation and colonisation had major effects on the subsequent evolution of plants, animals and land forms. He served in a succession of governing positions: Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony, and the 11th premier of New Zealand. To Heke and Kawiti, the thought of ceding land to the British was utterly unacceptable. (the bats nest) The 11th of January was the final day of fighting and was 178 years ago this year. May 25, 2023 · As relations between Māori and Pākehā sour in the years after the Treaty of Waitangi, Hone Heke makes his famous attacks on the flagstaff at Kororāreka/Russell in 1845. The Treaty of Waitangi is considered New Zealand’s founding document. He is remembered as one of the most complex and colourful characters in the history of New Zealand politics. While Heke was engaged at Te Ahuahu, Kawiti and Pene Taui continued the work at Ōhaeawai. Above the fighters, Polish Congreve rockets can be seen exploding. The British were attempting to suppress the Ruapekapeka Ruapekapeka was the site of the last battle of the Northern War, where about 400 Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Hine warriors stood against a combined British force of 1600. The Battle of Ruapekapeka took place from late December 1845 to mid-January 1846 between British forces, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Despard, and T he British Government’s policies to do with New Zealand changed in the late 1830s. Before 1840 (when New Zealand officially became part of the British Empire) Ngāpuhi had dominion over northern New Zealand. A … The Battle of Ruapekapeka Pā marked the end of the Flagstaff War. Ngāpuhi resentment manifested itself most dramatically in July 1844 when the highly symbolic flagstaff above Kororāreka was felled. [1] He traced descent from Rāhiri and Nukutawhiti of the Ngātokimatawhaorua canoe, the ancestors of the Ngāpuhi. Feb 4, 2025 · The war itself, and specifically the Battle of Ruapekapeka, played a key role in shaping New Zealand’s future, as the ongoing conflicts led to the establishment of more formalized systems of government, law, and settlement that would have profound implications for Māori and European relations. He was an excellent strategist and tactician, and will forever be remembered as the architect of Ruapekapeka pā. Our warriors built a pā (fortification), cleverly adapted to the armaments of European warfare. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf Hundreds of people are expected to gather at Northland's Lake Ōmāpere on Saturday to remember a battle that event organisers say is as pertinent today as it was 180 years ago. [1] Hōne Heke fought with Very soon after 1840, it became apparent to Northern Māori that British sovereignty undermined Māori mana . The interior of Ruapekapeka Pā was designed to protect the inhabitants from artillery fire, and to provide successive lines of defence within the pā should the enemy gain entry. Nene went to Auckland to tell the governor that peace had been won; with Nene insisting that the British accept the terms of Kawiti and Heke that they were to be unconditionally pardoned for their rebellion. Ruapekapeka Pā Ruapekapeka Pā, based about 20km southeast of Kawakawa, was the site of a historic battle in 1846. Read more T he pā at Ōhaeawai, belonging to Heke’s ally Pene Taui, was even stronger than the pā, which the British had failed to take six weeks prior. Jan 17, 2015 · Ruapekapeka pā occupied by British and Māori forces The battle at Ruapekapeka (‘the bats’ nest’), a sophisticated pā built by the Ngāpuhi chief Kawiti, ended the Northern War. A fter the Battle of Ruapekapeka, nobody wanted the fighting to continue. The warriors built a pā (fortification), which was cleverly adapted to the methods and armaments of European warfare. May 13, 2024 · Ruapekapeka, a pā 20 kilometers southeast of Kawakawa in New Zealand’s Northland region, is one of the largest and most complex pā in New Zealand; Ngapuhi created it specifically to counter the guns of British troops. Mar 31, 2011 · A Maori Tohunga, Te Ruki Kawiti, was a mastermind of leadership and tactical warfare. The concept of tapu was central to Māori life. 5 years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, disagreement over its interpretation turned into an armed uprising. The atua were easily offended and some of them were downright malevolent. Because to him, the British flag was Chapter 6: Ruapekapeka: September 1845 – February 1846 The final stage of the British campaign in the Northern War was the attack on Kawiti’s fortress pa, Ruapekapeka. The ships are the Hazard, the Victoria and the Matilda. History of Ruapekapeka Pa Ruapekapeka Pa was the site of one of the last military clashes between British troops and Māori tribes during the Great Northern War, a conflict Nov 8, 2017 · The battle of Ruapekapeka, fought in January 1846, was the final engagement in the war that Britain lost, as James Belich famously described it. But not in New Zealand. Ruapekapeka — "the bat's nest" — is the best preserved and most impressive fighting pā of the Northern war. Despite the growing influence of foreign traders, missionaries The Battle of Te Ruapekapeka R uapekapeka was the site of the last battle of the Northern War, where about 400 Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Hine warriors stood against a combined British force of 1600. This land war was May 16, 2025 · The plan of Ruapekapeka Pā from 1846, designed by Ngāpuhi, is highlighted as an innovative and heavily fortified structure that influenced modern trench warfare, according to James Belich. Jun 11, 2012 · In the first episode, Belich argued that the battle of Ruapekapeka was not a glorious victory for the British, but a strategic defeat – and that the peace that followed the Northern War gave Ngāpuhi leader Heke Hōne Pōkai and his followers much of what they had fought for. But over the years many of the features on the battlefield, including the grave of 12 British troops who died in the battle, have faded from view. There were certainly muskets and bayonets, probably double-barrelled shotguns, and perhaps pistols, swords, and traditional hand-held weapons such as patu . T e Ruki Kawiti was a distinguished leader and great fighting chief of the Ngāti Hine hapu. After the battle of Te Ruapekapeka Jan 11, 2012 · The battle at Ruapekapeka (‘the bats’ nest’), a sophisticated pā built by the Ngāpuhi chief Kawiti, ended the Northern War. jpg (682 × 506 pixels, file size: 78 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File information Structured data Ruapekapeka may not have been the first pā to utilise trenches or to have strong palisades, but the combination of design innovations made it one of the most effective against assault by muskets and heavy artillery. A beginning and an end. Where dissatisfaction over the Treaty turned to war: The history of Ruapekapeka is entwined with that of the Treaty of Waitangi, a living document which continues to shape New Zealand society. The Battle of Ruapekapeka was an engagement that took place from late-December 1845 to mid-January 1846 between British forces, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Despard, and Māori warriors of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe), led by Hōne Heke and Te Ruki Kawiti, during the Flagstaff War in the Bay of Islands region of New Zealand. The Battle of Ruapekapeka Pā marked the end of the Flagstaff War. The third epic chapter in the award-winning NZ Wars He built Ruapekapeka pa (the “Bat's Nest”), which was a revelation of the Maori genius for adapting their traditional military engineering to the standards of European warfare. The earliest conflicts in the 1840s happened at a time when Māori were still the predominant power, but by the 1860s settler numbers and resources were much greater. The Stories of Ruapekapeka, a documentary highlighting Northland's most infamous armed conflict, is hosted by RNZ's Māori Issues Correspondent Mihingarangi Forbes, and was made alongside Great Southern Television with funding from NZ on Air. After the Northern War The Northern War drew to a close after the Battle of Ruapekapeka and Despard was sent to New South Wales. Apr 20, 2019 · There had been intermittent fighting with the Maoris for more than a decade; in fact, since colonists first began arriving in numbers on these beautiful but remote islands. He and Hōne Heke successfully fought the British in the Flagstaff War in 1845–46. [1] The conflict is best remembered for the actions of Hone Heke who challenged the authority of the British by cutting down the flagstaff on Flagstaff Hill (Maiki Hill) at Kororareka, now Te Ruki Kawiti far right, with his nephew Hōne Heke and Heke's wife Hariata Te Ruki Kawiti (1770s – 5 May 1854) was a prominent Māori rangatira (chief). T he Battle of Ruapekapeka was the last of a series of clashes collectively known as The Northern War (1845-6). The British were attempting to suppress the “natives” rebelling The various conflicts of the New Zealand wars span a considerable period, and the causes and outcomes differ widely. From a Māori point-of-view 1846 was not very long ago. After hauling 30 tonnes of artillery and supplies over nearly 30 km of rugged country, the British force assembled before Ruapekapeka – ‘the bat’s nest’. Jul 15, 2021 · In December 1845, the British arrived at Ruapekapeka Pa. [1] He traced descent from Rāhiri and Nukutawhiti of the Ngātokimatawhaorua canoe, the ancestors of the Ngāpuhi. Its remains can still be seen today. Ruapekapeka is the best preserved of all the New Zealand Wars sites, a tangible Ruapekapeka pa - ruins of a maori fortress in New Zealand Pohutukawa trees tower over an old bunker at Fletcher Bay in the remote, secluded far north of the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand. The key to avoiding offence was to ensure that tapu was respected. On 11 January, when Māori scouts signalled that it was empty, troops rushed into the pā. The Northern war ended with the loss of Ruapekapeka, with Hone Heke Pokai and Te Ruki Kawati persuaded to sue for peace by Tamati Dec 1, 2017 · The Battle of Ruapekapeka is a tale of unanswered questions but 172 years on, what's clear is the importance of the Northern Wars and the impact they still have in Northland today. Kawiti himself was inside, but most of the warriors were in the area behind the pā. Many things were tapu, for example, to touch the head of a chief was a terrible breach. Apr 28, 2014 · During the northern war of the mid-1840s Ngāpuhi leader Te Ruki Kawiti built a complex pā at Ruapekapeka which included fortified underground shelters. [49] May 15, 2021 · Sunday, 10 January 2021 marked 175 years to the day since the Battle of Ruapekapeka ended. Ruapekapeka may have been a tactical victory for the British, but many consider the outcome a draw. Ruapekapeka (1845) Last battle of the Northern War Tensions increased after Governor William Hobson’s transfer of the capital to Auckland in 1841 and an Australian depression created an economic recession in the Bay of Islands. Hōne Heke chopping down the British flag is an enduring image in New Zealand history. Members of Te 11 January 1846 The British Army next attacked the Māori Pā at Ruapekapeka. ) follow this link. 1 To put it in perspective, more New Zealanders were killed during the Musket Wars than during World War One. Join us for the stories of Rua Pika Pika. The British Government were in need of any kind of victory at all, and so Despard’s version of events was perpetuated. After a lot of talking (and posturing on the part of Governor Grey), the Northern War was officially over. The first Māori to sign the Treaty of Waitangi, Ngāpuhi chief Hōne Heke Pōkai soon became disenchanted with the consequences of colonisation. The shift was necessitated by private interests in Britain and in France, who were planning to buy up Māori land and establish colonies of settlers. Heke and Kawiti had been working to strengthen the defences, expecting another attack. Nov 23, 2024 · Ruapekapeka pā. Read more Te Ruapekapeka In January 1846 the British began shelling a new Māori fortification at Te Ruapekapeka. . Ngāpuhi were the first to obtain a large number of muskets, which they put to good use against their enemies of old. The inconclusive outcome at Ruapekapeka offered both sides a way out. G eorge Grey was the newly-appointed Governor of New Zealand during the Battle of Ruapekapeka. Fourteen kilometres south east of Kawakawa, Ruapekapeka is one of the largest and most complex Maori pā in New Zealand. View on map The lead up B efore Ruapekapeka, Hōne Heke made a serious attempt to negotiate peace. Oct 14, 2009 · Plan_of_ruapekapeka_pa. After the British attack, the Māori defenders were persuaded to sue for peace, which they did. From about 1862 British troops began arriving in much greater number, summoned by Governor George Grey for his Nov 19, 2020 · Ruapekapeka Built by Kawiti in 1845, the pa Ruapekapeka was an extraordinary feat of architecture. The British sought to establish control over the region, leading to clashes with the Māori who vigorously defended their Ruapekapeka pā occupied by British and Māori forces The battle at Ruapekapeka (‘the bats’ nest’), a sophisticated pā built by the Ngāpuhi chief Kawiti, ended the Northern War. Fighting continued in the bush behind the pā for several hours as Kawiti tried to lure the British into an ambush. The three numbered Maori wars were merely periods of exceptional activity and crisis in a running struggle as Europeans, mostly British, wrested the land from the natives: the intelligent, brave and warlike Maoris. He was born in the north of New Oct 4, 2024 · Te Ruki Kawiti (1770s – 5 May 1854) was a prominent Māori rangatira (chief). M āori of the Ngāpuhi iwi went to war with the colonial government of New Zealand in 1845. Taken literally, such an expression is of course anthropomorphic and inherently ridiculous. Te Ruapekapeka Ruapekapeka was the site of the last battle of the Northern War, where 400 Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Hine warriors stood against a British force of 1600. They fought because Great Britain tried to impose an unacceptable version of the Queen’s sovereignty upon them. [58] Apr 2, 2019 · A few weeks after the battle of Ruapekapeka, the rival Ngāpuhi leaders met at Kawakawa and agreed to stop fighting among themselves. A force of around 1300 British troops and 400 Māori began to advance on Ruapekapeka in early December 1845. The conflict involved the British, the Ngāpuhi, as well as other Māori iwi (tribes) of the northern North Island. The Battle of Ruapekapeka took place from late December 1845 to mid-January 1846 between British forces, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Despard, and Māori warriors of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe), led by Hōne Heke and Te Ruki Kawiti, during the Flagstaff War in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. These Hōne Wiremu Heke Pōkai (c. May 7, 2012 · In July 1844 Ngāpuhi chief Hōne Heke Pōkai organised the felling of the flagpole above Kororāreka (later Russell) in a protest about unfulfilled promises of British colonisation. It is difficult to know for sure but perhaps 20,000 people were killed. Taken by the British on Jan 11th, 1846. About 12 British and up to 20 Māori were killed. If Ruapekapeka was a victory for the British, it certainly was a hollow one. ” Situated 30km south of the Waitangi settlement, Ruapekapeka was a purpose-built underground fortress that would go on to shelter hundreds of Northern Māori. Site Overview It is difficult to overstate the significance of Ruapekapeka Pa and Battlefield. 1807 – 7 August 1850), born Heke Pōkai and later often referred to as Hōne Heke, was a highly influential Māori rangatira (chief) of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe) and a war leader in northern New Zealand; he was affiliated with the Ngati Rahiri, Ngai Tawake, Ngati Tautahi, Te Matarahurahu and Te Uri-o-Hua hapū (subtribes) of Ngāpuhi. He had arranged to join Kawiti when the soldiers began their attack, but the British sought to stop this from happening. The Stories of Ruapekapeka: Directed by Simon Bennett. After intense debate, the Colonial Office decided that the New Zealand’s sovereign independence ought to be transferred to Britain. The inter-iwi Musket Wars were brutal and protracted, killing perhaps 20,000 people 1 and displacing countless others. The Pā however was largely empty, with Māori having already retreated out the back of the fortification. Journalist Mihingarangi Forbes visits Jun 21, 2018 · Over the three days, we met ancient trees, ate incredible meals, and visited the Treaty Grounds and Ruapekapeka Pa. These conflicting expectations, created or exacerbated by the different versions of Te Tiriti, ultimately caused the Northern War. ⸻ 🏰 Ruapekapeka Pā: Ahead of Its Time Constructed in late 1845, Ruapekapeka was a masterpiece of indigenous engineering, hidden deep in dense bush. Oct 26, 2017 · Ruapekapeka Trust member Peeni Henare talks about the Battle at Ruapekapeka, why the location was picked, the design of the Pa and the loss of British and Maori lives. 3km stretch of road, from State Highway 1 to Ruapekapeka Pā, near Kawakawa in the Far North, was blessed by hapū representatives on Friday. The imposition of customs duties and shipping levies increased prices and deprived Māori of sources of revenue. The Northern War, fought in the Bay of Islands in 1845-46, was the first serious challenge to the Crown in the years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Jan 29, 2024 · ADDED 1 MORE PIC OF PA SITE - CAPTION IS HIGH;LIGHTED The sealing of a once perilous road means visitors to one of New Zealand's most significant battle sites no longer have to risk life and limb to get there, an iwi leader says. Ruapekapeka was a stunning example of an early gunfighters’ pa, built by Hone Heke’s ally Kawiti in December 1845 and attacked by the British for ten days in January 1846. “ anyone to read Despard Ruapekapeka Pā is one of New Zealand's most significant historic battlefields, where you can walk through the innovative fortifications built by Te Ruki Kawiti in 1845. Section 1: Introduction about Northern Wars Section 2: How this affects or has impacted the lifestyle of Māori Section 3: How it affects Māori and us in the future Section 4: Key differences in the Treaty, linking it back to the Treaty Bibliography: Websites/Resources used Northern Land Wars The New Zealand land wars had begun in 1845, following the signing of the Treaty. But they were outnumbered four to one, with no heavy artillery. New rules and regulations cost Māori in the Bay of Islands trade and other economic opportunities. Great great grandchildren of those who fought in the battle are still alive, only four generations removed from the action. Despard ordered his troops to storm the breach. Hōne Heke and Te Ruki Kawiti lacked the resources to continue the war. The pā was the brainchild of Te Ruki Kawiti, who adapted traditional pā designs to address Differential access to muskets altered the balance of power between different iwi with dramatic consequences. The missionary Richard Taylor recorded the view of Chief Pana-kareao of Te Rarawa: “He thought the shadow of the land would go to the Queen and the substance remain with them but now he fears the substance of it will go to them and the shadow only be [the Māori] portion. For Governor George Grey it was important to bring the war to a rapid conclusion to reverse the flight of settlers from Auckland. Built by Te Ruki Kawiti, it housed several hundred Māori fighters that held the pā under British artillery fire for over a week before the palisades were partialyl breached on 10 January 1846. It is a letter, written in March 1845, from the Bishop of New Zealand to the Secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG). ” The Jan 7, 2021 · 175th commemorations for the Battle of Te Ruapekapeka. The battle of Ruapekapeka was fought between northern Māori and the British Army during January, 1846, with the British assaulting the Pā on 11 January 1846. It was the site of Northland’s last great battle between British troops and Nga Puhi forces led by Hone Heke and Kawiti. Sep 12, 2021 · NZ Wars: The Stories of Ruapekapeka | Documentary | RNZ RNZ 224K subscribers Subscribe Mar 3, 2009 · Some Māori who feared the loss of their land or cultural identity took up arms against the European newcomers. In the months that followed, Grey took on a magnanimous persona, announcing pardons and arguing against the confiscation of lands. New zealand defence landscape stock images, royalty-free photos and pictures Jun 9, 2025 · Our latest “Document of the Week” was chosen by our Senior Curator, Mary Wills. Ruapekapeka is a historic Māori fort located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Kawakawa in the Northland Region of New Zealand. From Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: Plan of Ruapekapeka. The Northern War was over. The conflict involved the British, Ngāpuhi and other Māori iwi of the northern North Island. Kawiti and Heke did not suffer an outright defeat, but the war affected the Ngāpuhi – in the disruption to agriculture and in the presence of British forces who brought with them disease and social disruption. The war originated from tensions between the British settlers and the Māori tribes, particularly the Ngāpuhi clan. On 10 January 1846, the Ruapekapeka, with its intricate series of underground shelters, which were linked by tunnels and encircled by fortifications, demonstrates the sophistication of Māori military techniques. Journalist Mihingarangi Forbes visits May 9, 2025 · Ngati Hine leader Pita Tipene during the 175th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Ruapekapeka Pā in 2021. The aim was to do it T he Musket Wars was a period of ferocious Māori versus Māori conflict which spread across much of the country during the early decades of the 19th century. He had gifted the flagpole so that the flag of the United Tribes could be flown, but following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi this was replaced by the Union Jack, to Heke’s displeasure. The Flagstaff War – also known as Hone Heke's Rebellion, the Northern War and the First Māori War – was fought between 11 March 1845 and 11 January 1846 in and around the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. [2] He played a key role in the colonisation of New Zealand, and both the purchase and annexation Portrait of William Congreve with a background scene of rocket fire during the British bombardment of Copenhagen, painted by James Lonsdale Battle of Grochów 1831, painting of Bogdan Willewalde ca. Ruapekapeka (31st December 1845-11th January 1846) Once again British troops found themselves dragging heavy artillery through the New Zealand bush, this time towards Ruapekapeka. At a time when British military technology led the world, this Māori reaction to the threat of artillery bombardment represents an ingenious indigenous response to European 175th commemorations for the Battle of Te Ruapekapeka. The battle in 1845/6 was the culmination of the War of the North, when Maori stood against the might of the British Empire. The Stories of Ruapekapeka. Presented by Mihingarangi Forbes. According to the official despatches, the rebels had been thoroughly beaten and dispersed. A ruthless and ambitious man, Grey served his second term as Governor of New Zealand during the Land Wars of the 1860s, and again as Premier in the late 1870s. A ban on the felling of kauri and Crown control of land sales added to Ruapekapeka Pā Defying British violations of the Treaty Reacting to the British breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, it was at Ruapekapeka Pā that Māori chiefs and their outnumbered warriors made their final stand of the Northern Wars. In the middle of nowhere in Northland, chief Te Ruki Kawiti devised a plan to fight back. Unlike most pre-colonial pa it was built in a clearing on a sloping hillside and was an irregular oblong with projecting angles to provide covering fire. The site showcases sophisticated Māori military engineering including massive earthworks and an underground tunnel network, all designed to counter British artillery during the final battle of the Northern War in January 1846. Te Waka Huia covered the 3 day commemorations of the final battle Artefacts The late Bert Timperley (Ngati Hine) was a man who lived on the Ruapekapeka Battlefield in what was the old school. The imposition of European laws and government regulations generated resentment among northern Māori Ruapekapeka Pā Defying British violations of the Treaty Reacting to the British breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, it was at Ruapekapeka Pā that Māori chiefs and their outnumbered warriors made their final stand of the Northern Wars. The largest campaign was the clash between the Kīngitanga and the Crown. The tapu of a The Battle of Ruapekapeka was an engagement that took place from late December 1845 to mid-January 1846 between British forces, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Despard, and Māori warriors of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe), led by Hōne Heke and Te Ruki Kawiti, during the Flagstaff War in the Bay of Islands region of New Zealand. This sparks the NZ Wars proper, with the fight for sovereignty, development of trench warfare and inconclusive battles that would mark the conflict as it spread across the motu. The last battle in this war was fought at Ruapekapeka. The story goes that Bridie’s parents were at the pā when the "farmer' was turning over a nearby "paddock" with his ploug… The rongomai seal was gifted to Maihi Paraone Kawiti son and heir to Te Ruki Kawiti. Dec 30, 2023 · Ruapekapeka (bats nest), a pā 20 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of Kawakawa in the Northland Region of New Zealand, is one of the largest and most complex pā in New Zealand, it specifically to counter the cannon of British forces. The final assault on the pā took place in January 1846. According to Mikaere, “The greatest, probably most prominent expression of outright Māori resistance to colonial rule was the infamous armed conflict of Ruapekapeka in Northland. Contents Waka huia promo te raumoa kawiti direct descendent of te ruki kawiti Ruapekapeka site of Kawitis p Roadside Stories Treaty of Waitangi Battle of Kororreka Battle of the sticks The attack on Hekes P at Puketutu Battle of Te Fourteen kilometres south east of Kawakawa, Ruapekapeka is one of the largest and most complex Maori pā in New Zealand. The Ngāpuhi people designed it specifically to defend against the powerful cannons used by British forces. During the 1860s, his designs revolutionised the New Zealand Wars and were replicated in fortifications throughout the nation Shortly after Ruapekapeka, Heke and Kawiti met their principal Māori opponent, the loyalist chief, Tāmati Wāka Nene, and agreed upon peace. Feb 1, 2021 · Now, 175 years on, Te Ruapekapeka is in a remarkable state of preservation. The British did not win a glorious battle as reported in the Times of London in Through both tangata and whenua we understand the conflicts and their consequences on thirty years of research, the Atlas of the New Zealand Wars reveals a complex series of challenges and misunderstandings, skirmishes and negotiations, battles and wars that have profoundly shaped the lives of Maori and Pakeha on these islands ever since. They expected kāwanatanga to apply to the pākehā settlers, traders and land agents, but that the chiefs would look after their own people as they always had. 1850. Journalist Mihingarangi Forbes visits I take no credit any creation of this video. They were faced with a significant challenge from the Maori and, despite the fact that they eventually managed to break through the defences, the Maoris escaped. The battle site was a pā located 20 kilometres (12 mi The first national commemoration of the New Zealand Wars began on Friday with a mass haka at Te Tii Marae at Waitangi. Governor Grey contacted a local chief aligned with the Crown , asking him to prevent Heke from reinforcing Kawiti at Ruapekapeka. Oct 26, 2017 · Radio New Zealand has released a 30-minute documentary on the battle at Ruapekapeka, an incredibly sophisticated pā in the far north where 400 Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Hine warriors stood against a The purpose of Ruapekapeka Pā was to draw the enemy in, to cause them a great deal of trouble, and then to be abandoned “without a qualm”. During the lead up to the Battle of Ruapekapeka, Heke remained at Hikurangi tending food crops. Ruapekapeka pā, 14 kilometres south-east of Kawakawa, was the site of the last battle in the northern war between British forces and chiefs of Ngāpuhi and associated tribes. Kawiti led his people against the British during the Northern War. This meant that the interior was exposed to British artillery from that Jun 30, 2025 · He famously led an assault on Puketutu Pā in May 1845 and later fortified Ruapekapeka Pā—a name meaning “The Bat’s Nest”—a site that would go down in history. Day One - Te Rapunga - Kawiti Marae, Waiomio, Te Taitokerau. Sir George Grey, KCB (14 April 1812 – 19 September 1898) was a British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer. However, Governor Fitzroy demanded the forfeiture of land to “atone” for the loss of Kororāreka. … Unfortunately we don’t have a great deal of specific information about the small arms in use on Sunday 11 January, when the soldiers entered the pā . Kawiti and Heke did not suffer an outright defeat, however the Flagstaff War impacted on the Ngāpuhi - in the disruption to agriculture and in the presence of British forces who brought with them disease and social disruption. The pā was the brainchild of Te Ruki Kawiti, who adapted traditional pā designs to address Te Ruki Kawiti (1770s – 5 May 1854) was a prominent Māori rangatira (chief). Muskets and bayonets The 1840s were a transitional period in terms of firearms Oct 31, 2017 · Iwi historian Arapeta Hamilton speaks about his whakapapa, Nga Puhi Chief Pomare II, economics of the North in the 1800s - as well as the consequence of the Northern Wars and how its effects are still felt in Northland today. THE STORIES OF RUAPEKAPEKATHE STORIES OF RUAPEKA | THE STORIES OF RUAPEKAPEKA | By Get it off your chest Aotearoa | story to tell. Though strongly constructed, Ruapekapeka’s hillside location exposed it to deadly British Artillery fire. Go back over a hundred 70 years and you would have seen one of the most incredible structures built anywhere, anytime in New Zealand’s thousand year history. He was born in the north of New Zealand into the Ngāti Hine hapu, one of the subtribes of the Ngāpuhi. New Zealand Wars by Danny Keenan In the 1840s and 1860s conflict over sovereignty and land led to battles between government forces and some iwi Māori. When Sir George Grey assumed the Governorship and made peace overtures, Kawiti was conciliatory but Heke preferred to fight. View on map NZ Wars - The Stories of Ruapekapeka - Five years after the Treaty of Waitangi's signing, tension between British and Māori was at boiling point. Land confiscations to punish iwi that fought against the Crown left a legacy of grievance. This chapter covers the lead-up to the attack and in particular the extensive peace negotiations conducted by Heke and Kawiti with Governors FitzRoy and Grey. British Military response (April 1845): Fitzroy wrote to the officials of New South Wales and asked for military support. Three more times, in January and ImageThe battle of Ruapekapeka Pā was the final engagement of the Northern War of 1845–46. But whether that means Ngāpuhi won the Northern War that had begun nine months earlier is in some ways a moot point. Ruapekapeka may have been a tactical victory for the British, but many consider the outcome a draw. To breach or diminish tapu was a very serious matter, which had dire consequences in the real world. For Governor George Grey it was Mar 15, 2025 · Hone Heke cuts down the flagpole (March 1845): Because of the consequences of the colonisation after signing the Treaty, Hone Heke showed his outrage by cutting down the British flags. It is known as one of the largest and most complex forts ever built by Māori. NZ Wars: The Stories of Ruapekapeka - the award-winning documentary highlighting Northland's most infamous armed conflict. From his T o Northland Māori the Battle of Ruapekapeka isn’t relegated to a distant past. The Northern War was in part a reaction to the colonial government’s increasing control over Māori affairs. A pā is a Māori village or defensive settlement, but often refers to hillforts – fortified settlements with palisades and Ruapekapeka pā, 14 kilometres south-east of Kawakawa, was the site of the last battle in the northern war between British forces and chiefs of Ngāpuhi and associated tribes. His masterpiece was Ruapekapeka, a state of the art pā with underground tunnels, deep trenches and artillery bunkers. The earthworks can still be seen. The Stories of Ruapekapeka, a documentary highlighting Northland's most infamous armed conflict, is hosted by Mihingarangi Forbes, and was made alongside Great Southern Television with funding from NZ on Air. jwbcl rfvuw ygcq exmngcz hakad qnlpem foiq blfou fbvl nxxeqqx revh dcax gwza vjis ednyn