Home > Hone Heke

Born at Pakaraka south of Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands, Heke was a member of the Ngapuhi tribe but also had connections to Rahiri which added to his mana. He grew up in the Kaikohe area, scarcely surviving the vicissitudes of tribal warfare.

As a youth, he attended the mission school at Kerikeri and came under the influence of the missionary, Henry Williams. Subsequently he, his wife and children were converted to Christianity and Hone became a lay preacher.

However, it was as a warrior that Hone Heke established his reputation. He took part in the first battle of Kororareka in 1830, in Titore's expedition to Tauranga, and fought with Titore against Pomare II in 1837.

There are conflicting reports of when Heke signed the Treaty of Waitangi. It may have been with the other chiefs on February 6, 1840. However, other accounts suggest that he refused to sign the treaty for several days, but when he did so it was right at the top of the list.

Heke's doubts about signing the treaty were well grounded. The capital of the new colony was shifted from Kororareka to AucklandAuckland in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest metropolitan area in the South Pacific Ocean. In Mori it bears the name Tmaki Makau Rau or karana . At 37 degrees south latitude, the Auckland urban area lies between the Hauraki Gulf of the Paci with the corresponding loss of revenue for the Bay of Islands. The imposition of customs duties, the banning of the felling of kauriKauri Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Pinophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Araucariaceae Genus: Agathis Species australis The Kauri Agathis australis is a coniferous tree native to the North Island of New Zealand. Kauri t trees and government control of the sale of land all contributed to an economic depression for the Maori.

Furthermore it became clear that the BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a state in Western Europe, usually known simply as the United Kingdom the UK Britain or less accurately as Great Britain . The UK was formed by a series of Acts of Union which united the formerly considered the authority of the chiefs to be subservient to that of the CrownThe Crown is a term which is used to separate the government authority and property of the state in a kingdom, as opposed to any personal influence and private assets held by the current Monarch. In the United Kingdom (and by extension, most of the nation although the treaty promised equal partnership.

As a signal of his discontent, Hone Heke chopped down the flagpole carrying the British flag that flew over Kororareka. The British interpreted this as an act of rebellion and soon the two peoples were at war.

Heke took an active part in the early phases of the conflict, but he was severely wounded during the Battle of Te Ahu Ahu and did not rejoin the fighting until the closing phase of the Siege of Ruapekapeka some months later.

Shortly afterwards, Heke and his ally, KawitiTe Ruki Kawiti was a prominent Maori chieftain (c1770 -1854), with Hone Heke he successfully fought the British in the First Maori War. Descended from Nukutawhiti and Rahiri he was born in the north of New Zealand to the Ngati Hine hapu, one of the subtri met with their principal Maori opponent, Tamati Waka NeneTamati Waka Nene (c. 1785 4 August 1871) was a Maori Chief who fought as an ally of the British in the First Maori War. Waka Nene c. 1870 Waka Nene was born to chiefly rank being connected to most of the notable Maori families in Tai Tokerau, the Bay of I and negotiated a ceasefire, which they then imposed upon the British. This did not prevent the governorThe Governor-General of New Zealand is the local representative of the Queen of New Zealand, Queen Elizabeth II, and as such is the highest office in the Government of New Zealand. The position of the Governor-General is similar to that in other Commonwea, George Grey from presenting it as a British victory. Despite this, Heke and George Grey were reconciled at a meeting in 1848

Hone Heke retired to Kaikohe where he died of tuberculosis two years later. He is still regarded as great leader and a hero by the Ngapuhi and the Maori people. To this day, his burial place remains a secret known only to a few people although this is subject to considerable speculation.