Maiki - Flagstaff Hill

Hone Hekechopped down the pole carrying the British flag that flew over Kororareka (Russell). He did this four times. This was after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and reflected Hone Heke's discontent with the events that followed, including the shifting of the capital to Auckland which contributed to economic depression in the North. In 1844 the flagstaff became the focus of Maori discontent and over the next ten months the pole was felled four times by Hone Heke and his warriors. On the last occasion, Russell was abandoned by its residents and the town, with the exception of the church and missionary buildings, was sacked. After 1846 Russell was gradually rebuilt. On the site are the remains of a British redoubt built to protect the pole. Before this hill was used for the flagpole it was occupied by prehistoric Maori, which is seen by the terraced slopes of the hill.

You can walk or drive up Flagstaff Hill, The walking track begins near the boat ramp on the Strand in Russell. The walk is 2.5km taking about 30 minutes. From the flagstaff, panoramic views are obtained across to Opua, Paihia, Waitangi, Moturoa, Ninepin and several other islands, and of course there are splendid views looking down on Russell itself.

A plaque at the foot of the flagstaff gives a full account of the events and personalities involved. It reads as follows:

On this spot was erected in the year 1840 the first Official signal flagstaff after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Owing however to misunderstanding between the two races the original flagstaff was cut down by the Maoris on July the 8th 1844 by one of Hone Heke’s chiefs (he himself having pledged his word to Archdeacon William Williams not to cut it down as he had threatened, and on this occasion refused to break is word. And another having been erected in it’s place this in turn was cut down on January the 10th 1845. A third was erected on January the 17th and this was laid low before daylight on the 18th. This again was replaced by a fourth and this time sheathed for the lower 20 feet with Iron as a further precaution. However this proved no protection and the Staff was again cut down in the early morning of March 11th, 1845. Kororareka was sacked and destroyed during the fighting which followed and this time the Staff was not re-erected by the British. However during 1857 as a voluntary ac of those who were directly concerned in cutting it down (and organised by Maihi Paraone Kawiti, son of Kawiti one of the Maori Chiefs) a noble spar was felled in the bush, towed and prepared on the Kororareka beach, dragged up the hill by four hundred Men, specially chosen to represent every section of the Maori Tribes, no “friendly’ being permitted part or lot in the undertaking. For several weeks the band of willing workers toiled at their self-appointed task, and early in January 1858 the British Flag, amidst general rejoicings of both races, again floated at the peak of a mast which received the somewhat imposing title of ‘Whakakotahitanga’ (being at one with the Queen) and through all the intervening years the peach which it commemorated has never been broken. The present Staff is the remaining portion of the original ‘Whakakotahitanga’
This tablet has been donated by Mr H Morpeth of Auckland.