Hone Heke and the Russell Flagstaff
Hone Heke and the Russell Flagstaff
The Flag: In the early 1800s a steady trade was developing with Australia; the missionaries and early settlers needing implements, provisions etc. and with exports such as pigs, flax and timber being sent on the return voyage.
The value of New Zealand exports to New South Wales and Tasmania reaching around £20,000 in the early 1830s. Ship building was also under way by this time. But when the first New Zealand built ship the Sir George Murray, attempted to sail into Sydney harbour, there were difficulties.
British maritime law required that all trading vessels entering a foreign port must fly a flag and must also carry papers to indicate the nationality of the ship. Otherwise, the ship and its cargo could be confiscated. These laws applied in Australia. So, when the Sir George Murray arrived in Sydney she was in breach of the law, she had no flag to fly and no official papers. The Sydney authorities were sympathetic and gave her a temporary license but it was imperative that a permanent solution be found if N.Z. built ships were to continue trading with other countries.
Discussions were held between James Busby, the British consular resident, and Colonial Secretary Richard Burke in New South Wales, and it was agreed that a flag representing New Zealand would suffice. With Busby’s assistance a flag was agreed upon with the local chiefs on 20 March 1834. The flag agreed was a St. George’s Cross on a white ground and in the first quarter a second St. George’s Cross with a white star in each quarter on a blue ground. This was a flag already in use by the Church Missionary Society. It is also very similar to the Shaw Savill & Albion flag used from 1882 to 1974.
The chosen flag became known as the flag of the united tribes. It is flown from the flagpole at Waitangi on Waitangi Day and also on occasions important to Ngapuhi. A very similar flag is widely used today by Maori groups who refer to it as the Whakaputanga flag.
The Flagpole: The flag was first raised with much ceremony at Waitangi later in 1834. A few years later it was also flown on Maiki Hill (now renamed Flagstaff Hill) overlooking Kororareka. But immediately after the signing of the Treaty Governor Hobson (a former naval captain who was accustomed to giving orders and being obeyed without question) had the New Zealand flag removed and replaced by the Union Jack. In a later speech to Governor Fitzroy Heke said “The pole that was cut down belonged to me, I made it for the native flag and it was never paid for by the Europeans.” He was indignant that Gov. Hobson should order British troops to go onto Maori land to pull down his flag flying on his flagpole. Can you blame him? Jack Lee, a noted former Northland historian, has written that Heke’s flagpole was erected several years before 1840.
There were other reasons why Heke became disillusioned by the colonial Government. Maori had invited the British to the Bay of Islands for protection and improved trade. But in no time the capital and centre of trade had been established in Auckland, duties on imports were imposed and trading ships visiting Kororareka had to pay a fee. He advised Gov. Fitzroy in 1844 that “I will prepare another pole… and I will erect it in its proper place at Kororareka in order to put a stop to our present quarrel”. But once again Heke’s flag was replaced with the union jack. Heke ended up cut down the flagpole a total of four times.
The outcome: When Heke cut down the flagpole the fourth time skirmishes broke out in the town between Heke’s supporters and the local militia. Later that day the powder magazine at Polack’s stockade exploded and surrounding buildings caught fire. It is not known whether this was deliberate or accidental but the ensuing fire consumed many of the wooden buildings in the town. Europeans and troops were then evacuated and Maori began to pillage the town seeking mainly nails and lead, sparing the Anglican and Catholic churches on Heke’s orders. Lieutenant G. Phillpotts of the Hazard then ordered the bombardment of the town, in the process hitting the church more than once. The next morning a few former inhabitants came ashore to reclaim what possessions they could and were assisted by Maori in taking them to the waiting boats. Suddenly Phillpotts ordered the Hazard’s gunners to fire more volleys into the town even though a number of settlers were still there, an action which Rev. Henry Williams described as a ‘mad prank’ and enraged Maori who felt they were being targeted by those they had let escape. Before long there was essentially no town left and the Hazard left for Auckland with its pakeha passengers.
By this time Robert Fitzroy, another naval man, had become Governor. He ordered British troops to attack the several pas Heke was associated with and the first of the ‘Maori Wars’ had begun.
If Hobson had reasoned with local Maori chiefs and not ordered the pulling down of Heke’s New Zealand flag this war could have been avoided. But after all he was a sailor, not a diplomat. No diplomats were brought to negotiate the treaty, only the armed forces.
Following the wars Heke wrote to Gov. Fitzroy proposing a peaceful solution with them jointly replacing the flagstaff “then shall New Zealand be made one with England.” The fifth flagstaff was erected in January 1858 by Kawiti's son Maihi Paraone.
Hone Heke did not live to see this happen, he died on 7 August 1850 of tuberculosis.
The Steele family was living in Kororareka in the early 1840s before being evacuated to Auckland and the following interesting letter, which is undated, was written by Mrs. Hannah Steele:
Kororareke, Bay of Islands
This is a little incident related to me by my mother, who was a little girl at the time, and the truth of which she can vouch for.
It was at Kororareke, at the time when Hone Heke was engaged in cutting down the flagstaff every time the soldiers raised the British flag.
The Maoris were very fond of the pakeha residents, and if a strange vessel appeared in the bay, would often take the white children away into the bush until the ‘all clear’ sounded so to speak.
One day Hone Heke had performed his self-appointed task of cutting down the flag and the soldiers were looking for him. He arrived at my grandmother’s house seeking shelter. The family were having lunch and he was bundled under the table and the cloth draped over the table just in time. There was a loud knock on the door and a voice said “Open in the Queen’s name.” My grandmother opened it and the soldiers walked in and searched the room and the rest of the house but did not look under the table. The family went on with their meal and were very pleased when the soldiers left.
As soon as it was safe great grandmother lifted the cloth, and taking hold of his black curly hair, hauled him out saying “You know this is worth a hundred pounds Johnny” (this being their nickname for him). ”They’ll never get it mother” said he, and they never did as he was pardoned later on.
He always paid them a visit whenever he came to the village and the whole family were very fond of him.
Don HAYWARD
Te Reo AKUHATA/AUGUST 2021 Vol. 28 Issue #3 pg18
Note: 1. As far as I know this letter has never been published. I have lodged a copy with Special Collections, Auckland Libraries.
2. The village she refers to was most likely at St. John’s College where the family lived for a while after relocating to Auckland.
References: New Zealand History on line Flags of New Zealand
New Zealand History on line, Sacking of Kororareke
Hone Heke, Nga Puhi Warrior, Paul Moon, 2001
Illustrations: Hone Heke and Kawhiti
The flag or the united tribes
Escorting a pakeha (Augustus Earl the artist) down Maihi Hill
Hone Heke cutting down the flagpole
Entrance to Ruapekapeka Pa.