Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(fortified village) was born, effectively the world's first sophisticated 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 fortifica-
tions 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.
In 1830 the settlement was the scene of the so-called Girls' War, when two pairs of
Maori women were vying for the attention of a whaling captain called Brind. A chance
meeting between the rivals on the beach led to verbal abuse and fighting. This minor
conflict quickly escalated as family members rallied around to avenge the insult and
harm done to their respective relatives. Hundreds were killed and injured over a two-
week period before missionaries managed to broker a peace agreement.
After the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, Okiato (where the car ferry now
leaves from) was the residence of the governor and the temporary capital. The capital
was officially moved to Auckland in 1841 and Okiato, which was by then known as Rus-
sell, was eventually abandoned. The name Russell ultimately replaced Kororareka.
