Today in History

1845 The fall of Kororareka

In the early hours of 11 March 1845 anti-government Maori attacked Kororāreka. While the settlement had fallen into decline since the capital was moved from nearby Okiato to Auckland in 1841, it was still a major trading and ship-provisioning centre and the fifth largest town in New Zealand.

Hōne Heke and Kawiti were key figures in the attacking forces. Their opponents included another Ngāpuhi leader, Tāmati Wāka Nene. The motives for the fighting were complex. Heke wanted to see the Māori-language version of the Treaty of Waitangi honoured. He also wanted to preserve Māori independence and chiefly authority from what he saw as increasing interference by the government.

The one-gun battery and two blockhouses defending the settlement were quickly captured. For a fourth, and final, time the British flag on Maiki Hill was cut down. Heke was reluctant to harm settlers and most of the townspeople were evacuated to the ships Victoria and Active, which were anchored in the harbour.

The attack on Kororāreka was one of the rare occasions in the Northern War when the British forces were outnumbered. Yet the attackers seemed unwilling to press home their advantage. There was a desultory exchange of gunfire during the morning. Shortly after lunch the powder magazine at Polack’s Stockade was accidentally blown up. Following this explosion, HMS Hazard began to bombard the town. Maori took this as a signal to commence plundering. The British ships sailed for Auckland on 12 March, effectively surrendering the town to Heke and Kawiti’s forces.

The fall of Kororāreka was a serious morale and financial blow to the British, who lost an estimated £50,000 worth of property.

Image: Hōne Heke fells flagstaff at Kororāreka