Battle of Kororāreka

Hone Heke removing the British colors from Flagstaff Hill in Kororāreka

Date	11 March 1845
Location	Kororāreka, New Zealand
Result	Māori victory; Kororāreka captured* Successful British and American rescue operations

Belligerents

United Kingdom

Māori

Commanders and leaders

William Hulme

Hone Heke
Te Ruki Kawiti

Strength

Land: ~140
Sea:
1 sloop-of-war (HMS Hazard)

Land: ~600

Casualties and losses

11 killed
~8 wounded

Unknown

The Battle of Kororāreka, or the Burning of Kororāreka, on 11 March 1845, was an engagement of the Flagstaff War in New Zealand. Following the establishment of British control of the islands, war broke out with a small group of the native population which resulted in the fall of the present day town of Russell to Māori warriors.

Although he had been the first to sign the Treaty of Waitangi in February 1840, Nga Puhi chief Hōne Heke became increasingly unhappy with the outcome. He objected to the relocation of the capital to Auckland and changes to custom tariffs that caused a serious loss of revenue to the Ngāpuhi.

In July 1844, Heke and a group of warriors entered the town, and the Pakaraka chief Te Haratua cut down the flagstaff. Heke himself had set out to cut down the flagstaff, but had been persuaded by Archdeacon William Williams not to do so. Six months later on 10 January 1845 the flagstaff was cut down a second time - this time by Heke. A new and stronger flagstaff sheathed in iron was erected later that month and guard post built around it - but the next morning the flagstaff was felled for the third time.

Governor FitzRoy sent over to New South Wales for reinforcements. A block-house was built around the base, a guard of 20 soldiers was placed in this, and a fourth flagstaff erected.

On 11 March 1845 Hōne Heke and his men, along with Te Ruki Kawiti and his followers together attacked the town.

British forces were outnumbered. The sloop-of-war HMS Hazard landed a party to aid the of British Army infantry under Lieutenant Colonel William Hulme. In all there were about 140 soldiers, sailors and marines. The American sloop USS St. Louis, under Commodore Foxhall A. Parker, was also present and her crew assisted in evacuating the British subjects.

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Wikipedia