The Battle in Russell that started the Maori Wars in New Zealand.

1. The battle of Kororareka
• BY JASON

2.  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 quot;the tribe of Marionquot;, after the
massacre of many Māori by the French
following the murder of the explorer Marion
du Fresne,

3.  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.

4.  Itwas 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.

5. 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 quot;Hazardquot; were in
place, providing a combined force of 140
soldiers, sailors and marines based in Kororareka

6.  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 quot;The Flagstaff Warquot;.

7.  Inspite 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.

8.  Fightingcontinued 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.

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

10. flagpole
Blue is Maori

11. Flagpole is here

16. ??????????????
Ammo department go
BOOM!!
??????????????

17. British escape to the
boats, Russel is on fire

19. British try to bomb the Maori
to pieces

21. Battle of Kororareka
By Jason