Consequences of ruapekapeka 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. The warriors built a pā (fortification), which was cleverly adapted to the methods and armaments of European warfare. 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 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 conflict involved the British, the Ngāpuhi, as well as other Māori iwi (tribes) of the northern North Island. 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. 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 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. 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. Ruapekapeka may have been a tactical victory for the British, but many consider the outcome a draw. 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. From his T o Northland Māori the Battle of Ruapekapeka isn’t relegated to a distant past. It is difficult to know for sure but perhaps 20,000 people were killed. After the Northern War The Northern War drew to a close after the Battle of Ruapekapeka and Despard was sent to New South Wales. After the British attack, the Māori defenders were persuaded to sue for peace, which they did. 1 To put it in perspective, more New Zealanders were killed during the Musket Wars than during World War One. Site of Ruapekapeka Pa, now part of historic and scenic reserve. 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 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. But whether that means Ngāpuhi won the Northern War that had begun nine months earlier is in some ways a moot point. 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. Join us for the stories of Rua Pika Pika. He and Hōne Heke successfully fought the British in the Flagstaff War in 1845–46. 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 atua were easily offended and some of them were downright malevolent. Its opening shots marked the beginning of the wider North Island conflicts that are often referred to as the New Zealand Wars. Many on the British side also realised how difficult it would be to keep fighting. T e Ruki Kawiti was a distinguished leader and great fighting chief of the Ngāti Hine hapu. 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. Oct 26, 2017 · We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. It is known as one of the largest and most complex forts ever built by Māori. 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. Ngāpuhi were the first to obtain a large number of muskets, which they put to good use against their enemies of old. These conflicting expectations, created or exacerbated by the different versions of Te Tiriti, ultimately caused the Northern War. Listen to a Roadside Story about Kawiti's pā. 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. It was the site of Northland’s last great battle between British troops and Nga Puhi forces led by Hone Heke and Kawiti. [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. The imposition of customs duties and shipping levies increased prices and deprived Māori of sources of revenue. Te Ruapekapeka is a wahi tapu or sacred site, steeped in historical relevance. Members of Te 11 January 1846 The British Army next attacked the Māori Pā at Ruapekapeka. 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. Hōne Heke chopping down the British flag is an enduring image in New Zealand history. 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. In the months that followed, Grey took on a magnanimous persona, announcing pardons and arguing against the confiscation of lands. [49] May 15, 2021 · Sunday, 10 January 2021 marked 175 years to the day since the Battle of Ruapekapeka ended. 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). [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). Kioda, I’m Mahinarangi Forbes. ” Situated 30km south of the Waitangi settlement, Ruapekapeka was a purpose-built underground fortress that would go on to shelter hundreds of Northern Māori. THE STORIES OF RUAPEKAPEKATHE STORIES OF RUAPEKA | THE STORIES OF RUAPEKAPEKA | By Get it off your chest Aotearoa | story to tell. [1] Hōne Heke fought with Very soon after 1840, it became apparent to Northern Māori that British sovereignty undermined Māori mana . Ngāpuhi resentment manifested itself most dramatically in July 1844 when the highly symbolic flagstaff above Kororāreka was felled. He had arranged to join Kawiti when the soldiers began their attack, but the British sought to stop this from happening. 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. Heke and Kawiti had been working to strengthen the defences, expecting another attack. T he Battle of Ruapekapeka was the last of a series of clashes collectively known as The Northern War (1845-6). The concept of tapu was central to Māori life. ⸻ 🏰 Ruapekapeka Pā: Ahead of Its Time Constructed in late 1845, Ruapekapeka was a masterpiece of indigenous engineering, hidden deep in dense bush. On 11 January, when Māori scouts signalled that it was empty, troops rushed into the pā. 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. Nov 23, 2024 · Ruapekapeka pā. 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. But they were outnumbered four to one, with no heavy artillery. Debate soon raged as to whether the fortress had been deliberately abandoned or captured. 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. Governor Grey himself was present during the bombardment, having traveled from Auckland. Above the fighters, Polish Congreve rockets can be seen exploding. 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. 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. 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 Northern War was over. The final assault on the pā took place in January 1846. To Heke and Kawiti, the thought of ceding land to the British was utterly unacceptable. These Hōne Wiremu Heke Pōkai (c. After intense debate, the Colonial Office decided that the New Zealand’s sovereign independence ought to be transferred to Britain. 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. 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. 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. The British Government were in need of any kind of victory at all, and so Despard’s version of events was perpetuated. 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. British Military response (April 1845): Fitzroy wrote to the officials of New South Wales and asked for military support. 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. ” The Jan 7, 2021 · 175th commemorations for the Battle of Te Ruapekapeka. 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. 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. 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. 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. He was born in the north of New Oct 4, 2024 · Te Ruki Kawiti (1770s – 5 May 1854) was a prominent Māori rangatira (chief). The earthworks can still be seen. The Stories of Ruapekapeka: Directed by Simon Bennett. 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. It was an armed response to the Treaty of Waitangi, seeking to prevent the erosion of Maori mana. After a lot of talking (and posturing on the part of Governor Grey), the Northern War was officially over. He was born in the north of New Zealand into the Ngāti Hine hapu, one of the subtribes of the Ngāpuhi. Ruapekapeka — "the bat's nest" — is the best preserved and most impressive fighting pā of the Northern war. Oct 7, 2024 · The Battle of Ruapekapeka Pā marked the end of the Flagstaff War. Ruapekapeka is a historic Māori fort located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Kawakawa in the Northland Region of New Zealand. Eventually, after some time, a peace was forged between the two sides. Though strongly constructed, Ruapekapeka’s hillside location exposed it to deadly British Artillery fire. The war originated from tensions between the British settlers and the Māori tribes, particularly the Ngāpuhi clan. Governor Grey contacted a local chief aligned with the Crown , asking him to prevent Heke from reinforcing Kawiti at Ruapekapeka. 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. 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. 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. 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. The Battle of Ruapekapeka Pā marked the end of the Flagstaff War. Many things were tapu, for example, to touch the head of a chief was a terrible breach. Ruapekapeka may have been a tactical victory for the British, but many consider the outcome a draw. For Governor George Grey it was important to bring the war to a rapid conclusion to reverse the flight of settlers from Auckland. Taken literally, such an expression is of course anthropomorphic and inherently ridiculous. After a bombardment by British artillery, Kawiti and his men abandoned the pā in January 1846. View on map The lead up B efore Ruapekapeka, Hōne Heke made a serious attempt to negotiate peace. 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. To breach or diminish tapu was a very serious matter, which had dire consequences in the real world. Three more times, in January and ImageThe battle of Ruapekapeka Pā was the final engagement of the Northern War of 1845–46. 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. From Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: Plan of Ruapekapeka. The Ngāpuhi people designed it specifically to defend against the powerful cannons used by British forces. 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. Taken by the British on Jan 11th, 1846. 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. The first Māori to sign the Treaty of Waitangi, Ngāpuhi chief Hōne Heke Pōkai soon became disenchanted with the consequences of colonisation. 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. The Northern War was in part a reaction to the colonial government’s increasing control over Māori affairs. A force of around 1300 British troops and 400 Māori began to advance on Ruapekapeka in early December 1845. 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. 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. A … 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. https://youtu. M āori of the Ngāpuhi iwi went to war with the colonial government of New Zealand in 1845. 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. T he Battle of Te Ruapekapeka was the last of a series of clashes collectively known as The Northern War (1845-6). 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. Kawiti led his people against the British during the Northern War. 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. 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 Pā however was largely empty, with Māori having already retreated out the back of the fortification. The Stories of Ruapekapeka. The Māori warriors were fighting for their rights guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi). 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. 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. Before 1840 (when New Zealand officially became part of the British Empire) Ngāpuhi had dominion over northern New Zealand. The last battle in this war was fought at Ruapekapeka. The ships are the Hazard, the Victoria and the Matilda. Mar 31, 2011 · A Maori Tohunga, Te Ruki Kawiti, was a mastermind of leadership and tactical warfare. Fighting continued in the bush behind the pā for several hours as Kawiti tried to lure the British into an ambush. The inconclusive outcome at Ruapekapeka offered both sides a way out. 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. 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 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. ) follow this link. 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. The 5. The Treaty of Waitangi is considered New Zealand’s founding document. 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. His masterpiece was Ruapekapeka, a state of the art pā with underground tunnels, deep trenches and artillery bunkers. 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. 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 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. Day One - Te Rapunga - Kawiti Marae, Waiomio, Te Taitokerau. He expressed his outrage by repeatedly attacking the flagstaff on the hill above Kororāreka (Russell). After their experience at Ōhaeawai the British were wary about attacking the pā directly. 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. Jul 23, 2022 · The inconclusive outcome at Ruapekapeka offered both sides a way out. A fter the Battle of Ruapekapeka, nobody wanted the fighting to continue. 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. But not in New Zealand. The old site just south of Kawakawa is a special place for one 19-year-old. 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. 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. 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). 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. Hōne Heke and Te Ruki Kawiti lacked the resources to continue the war. . 5 years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, disagreement over its interpretation turned into an armed uprising. Fourteen kilometres south east of Kawakawa, Ruapekapeka is one of the largest and most complex Maori pā in New Zealand. Our warriors built a pā (fortification), cleverly adapted to the armaments of European warfare. 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 largest campaign was the clash between the Kīngitanga and the Crown. There were almost no substantial buildings behind its twin palisades, instead, shelter consisted of a series of tunnels, pits and bomb-proof bunkers. The Prequel Video or Waitiangi video (A version of the story, Well Pretty Much. You can still see the remains of its earthworks today. 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. When Sir George Grey assumed the Governorship and made peace overtures, Kawiti was conciliatory but Heke preferred to fight. However, Governor Fitzroy demanded the forfeiture of land to “atone” for the loss of Kororāreka. The inter-iwi Musket Wars were brutal and protracted, killing perhaps 20,000 people 1 and displacing countless others. 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. Its remains can still be seen today. Ruapekapeka Pā Ruapekapeka Pā, based about 20km southeast of Kawakawa, was the site of a historic battle in 1846. Presented by Mihingarangi Forbes. There were certainly muskets and bayonets, probably double-barrelled shotguns, and perhaps pistols, swords, and traditional hand-held weapons such as patu . 3km stretch of road, from State Highway 1 to Ruapekapeka Pā, near Kawakawa in the Far North, was blessed by hapū representatives on Friday. Kawiti himself was inside, but most of the warriors were in the area behind the pā. 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. “ 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. A beginning and an end. Sir George Grey, KCB (14 April 1812 – 19 September 1898) was a British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer. In the middle of nowhere in Northland, chief Te Ruki Kawiti devised a plan to fight back. Feb 1, 2021 · Now, 175 years on, Te Ruapekapeka is in a remarkable state of preservation. Land confiscations to punish iwi that fought against the Crown left a legacy of grievance. 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 an excellent strategist and tactician, and will forever be remembered as the architect of Ruapekapeka pā. 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. 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. 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. Site Overview It is difficult to overstate the significance of Ruapekapeka Pa and Battlefield. 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. 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. 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. 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. According to the official despatches, the rebels had been thoroughly beaten and dispersed. … 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 . 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. 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 re