Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.kororarekanz.com
; cnr The Strand & Pitt St; walking tours adult/child $20/10; gallery 11am-3pm, walking
tours 11am & 2pm)
Run by the local
marae
society, Haratu has Maori art and craft, mostly
available for purchase. There are also audiovisual displays and information boards. One-
hour guided walks featuring Maori stories are available in summer and by arrangement
other times. It's volunteer-run, so opening times can vary.
HONE HEKE & THE NORTHLAND WAR
Just five years after he had been the first signatory to the Treaty of Waitangi, Ngapuhi chief Hone Heke was so
disaffected that he planned to chop down Kororareka's flagstaff, a symbol of British authority, for the fourth time.
Governor FitzRoy was determined not to let that happen and garrisoned the town with soldiers and marines.
On 11 March 1845 the Ngapuhi staged a diversionary siege of the town. It was a great tactical success, with
Chief Kawiti attacking from the south and another party attacking from Long Beach. While the troops rushed off
to protect the township, Hone Heke felled the Union Jack on Maiki (Flagstaff Hill) for the fourth and final time.
The British were forced to evacuate to ships lying at anchor. The captain of the HMS
Hazard
was wounded
severely in the battle and his replacement ordered the ships' cannons to be fired on the town; most of the build-
ings were razed. The first of the New Zealand Wars had begun.
In the months that followed, British troops (united with Hokianga-based Ngapuhi) fought Heke and Kawiti in
several battles. During this time the modern
pa
(fortified village) was born, effectively the world's first sophistic-
ated system of trench warfare. It's worth stopping at
Ruapekapeka Pa Historic Reserve
(Ruapekapeka Rd), off
SH1 south of Kawakawa, to see how impressive these fortifications were. Here you can wander the site of the last
battle of the Northland War, brought to life through detailed information boards. Eventually Heke, Kawiti and
George Grey (the new governor) made their peace, with no side the clear winner.
Tours
Russell Mini Tours
MAP
MINIBUS
GOOGLE MAP
( 0800 646 486;
www.russellminitours.com
; cnr The Strand & Cass St; adult/child $29/15; tours 10am, 11am,
1pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm)
Minibus tour around historic Russell with commentary. Tours departing
Paihia (adult/child $40/20) visiting Kawakawa and the Kawiti Glowworm Caves are also
available.
Sleeping
