Northern War

NORTHERN WAR

The war had begun with the sacking of Kororareka (Russell) which involved fighting between two factions of Ngapuhi as well as clashes with the British Forces. The 8th of July Hone Heke cut down the flagstaff on Maiki Hill above Kororareka for the first time. Hone Heke Pokai was a Ngapuhi Leader full of power, known as a warrior, with intelligence and energy in looking after his people’s interests.  Heke found the British ensign flying above Kororareka without the Flag of the United Tribes of Aotearoa beside it and felt that this reflected the loss of Maori Mana.  He cut it down as a reflection of his unhappiness with the reality of British sovereignty.  Heke's actions had been the first serious challenge to the Crown in the years after the signing of Te Tiriti or Waitangi.  Which had signaled the beginning of 20 years of fierce battles between Maori and Europeans.  Heke had written a letter to Governor Fitzroy expressing his unhappiness with the situation in the letter he wrote "The pole that was cut down belonged to me.  I made it for the native flag and it was never paid for by the Europeans". Word went around about the cutting of the flagstaff and had reached other Rangatira, so they decided to reach out to Governor Fitzroy (Hobson had died a few years earlier).   This had happened and Heke still not satisfied with the British response had cut it down 3 more times except the third time it was clad with iron and armed with guards.  Heke's protest ctions resulted in war between British troops and northern Maori, led by Chief Hone Heke and his ally Chief Kawiti.

How does this event have any relevance to interpretations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi?

 Here’s a little backstory.  Hone Heke was the first Maori Chief to sign the Treaty of Waitangi where he addressed Governor Hobson saying “Governor, you should stay with us and be like a father.  If you go away, then the French and the rum sellers will take us Maori over”.  This was a clear sign that Maori did not want anyone to own them or rule them except they needed protection.  However, the signing of the treated said otherwise.  In Article 1 of Te Tiriti both interpretations state the chiefs have a position in power.  However, different terms are used in both versions.  In the Maori version Article 1 states that "Chiefs gave the queen ‘te Kawanatanga Katoa’ - the governance or government over the land", to which the Maori thought would only apply to Pakeha – those who were British.  But in the English version Article 1 states that "Chiefs gave the queen ‘all rights and powers of sovereignty’ over the land".  The misunderstanding relates to the Northern wars because the British ensign flying over Kororareka on Heke’s flagstaff was a sign to Heke that the British ruled over the Native’s or in other words Britain had sovereignty over Maori – which he did not sign up to.  So, in response Heke cut it down as it was their most fundamental symbol of authority over Maori.

What is the effect of the event today?

 Ngapuhi never gave the British control.  What they did give to the British was basically give them  an empty victory at Ruapekapeka, by simply withdrawing, the clever tactic resulted in stalemate. This had ‘normalized’ the situation to some degree thanks to Governor Grey who replaced Fitzroy at the end of 1845.  Fortunately, Grey had realized that land was a very delicate issue and that to confiscate any would cause ongoing unrest.  Today, Ngapuhi is the largest tribe in New Zealand and home not only to rich soils but people who played a central role in Maori history.  

Resources:  Ruapekapeka, NZhistory.govt.nz, HoneHeke.co.nz, Te Ara, treaty2u.govt.nz