HEKE’S MANA

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 940, 5 April 1930, Page 8

HEKE’S MANA

Tablet as Memorial to Flagstaff Incident FITZROY’S PERTURBATION In 1930, it is the easiest thing to be amused at the annoyance caused Hone Heke. the feared Ngapuhi warrior, simply by the appearance of a series of flagstaffs above Kororareka. lu 1544 it was not amusing for tha European residents of the North Auckland settlement or even those of ! Auckland. 1 Next Wednesday morning at Russell (once Kororareka) a tablet will be nn. veiled as a memorial to the Maiki Hill flagstaff incidents— events which con. cerned New Zealand's second Gover. nor, Captain Robert Fitzrov, gravely From many parts of New Zealand natives will attend the ceremonv, but the story of the flagstaffs, Heke’s beta noire, will be best understood by the tribesmen of Ngapuhi. From the moment of the appear, ance of a British flagstaff on the hill above Russell. Heke did not take pains to hide his acute resentment; to the fierce Maori, the plain pole was a manifestation in his territory of the spreading power of Wikitoria i Queen Victoria), the Sovereign overseas, sir William Williams realised Heke’s objections and managed to persuade the belligerent man to return to his inland strongholds. The story goes that the opinions of Heke’s people turned him bark to Russell and the irksome flagstaff. The chieftain’s followers levelled tho offending sign of authority in July' 1544. but Heke sat solemnly in a canoe, vowing that he would not break his bond. He was admirably discreet. CALL FOR SOLDIERY Down in Auckland Captain Fitiroy hastily sent a call to Australia for British troops. Tamati Waaka Nene, an influential native of the time, announced his intention to support the British, so, in January, 1545, Heke’s men brought the flagstaff down again. A reward was offered for his capture and Nene placed a guard round a third flagstaff. Heke’s action was to stride boldly up to the pole, despite the protestations of the guard, and to hack the flagstaff down himself. That was in January-, too.

This flagrant defiance led to the construction of a blockhouse by a fourth flagstaff, the digging of a defence pit, and the placing of a guard, 20 strong, under a subaltern. For the fourth time, Heke and his men raided the place and felled the flagstaff. Attention to this incident was obscured by an assault led by Kawiti, another chieftain, on the settlement, and Heke appeared to consider his mans had been satisfied adequately.

Heke died of tuberculosis in isrt. Paraone, a son of Kawiti, who died in 1853, later was imbued with the idet of establishing peace by re-erecting a flagstaff. This was achieved eight years after the death of the turbulent Heke, and the event was approved by English and Maoris.