Suggest an edit to this item

Format: Stories (Events)

Linked To

People

Events

Newspaper Article

Other articles of interest (15)

Stories (Person)

Other people of interest (5)

Stories (Events)

Other events of interest (5)

Publications

Other related stories (4)

Stories (Places)

Other places of interest

Map

Add

no geotags or polygons yet

Tools

Download Add to My Collection Contact us about this Suggest an edit to this item Citation for this item

War in the North

TitleWar in the NorthAlternative NameThe Northern WarSummaryBrief history of the Northern War in 1845-1846, with links to related events, people and places, as well as historic newspaper articles in our archive collections.
Main Body

The Northern War was the first serious challenge to the Crown in the years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Its opening shots marked the beginning of the wider North Island conflicts that are often referred to as the New Zealand Wars.

This complex conflict involved fighting between two factions of Ngāpuhi, one, led by Heke and Te Ruki Kawiti, fought both the Crown and another Ngāpuhi faction led by Tāmati Wāka Nene, Eruera Maihi Patuone, Mohi Tawhai and Makoare Te Taonui. As well as this there were clashes with British forces. The war began with the sacking of Kororāreka (Russell), then New Zealand’s fifth largest town. Fighting followed at Puketutu in May. One of the most significant battles of the war – at Te Ahuahu in June – involved only Ngāpuhi. The British were defeated at Ōhaeawai in July and the fighting ended six months later after an inconclusive battle at Ruapekapeka.

Date of Event1845-1846SourcesNZ History: The Northern War » The Northern War, URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/northern-war, (Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 18-Aug-2017

Newspaper Article

Illustrated London News 1845 vol.7 page 372

Illustrated London News 1845 vol.7 page 258

Illustrated London News 1845 vol.7 page 231

Illustrated London News 1845 vol.7 page 190

Illustrated London News 1845 vol.7 page 59

Illustrated London News 1845 vol.7 page 51

Illustrated London News 1845 vol.7 page 35

Illustrated London News 1845 vol.7 page 34

Illustrated London News 1845 vol.7 page 19

Illustrated London News 1846 vol.8 page 415

Illustrated London News 1846 vol.8 page 186

Illustrated London News 1846 vol.8 page 59

Illustrated London News 1846 vol.9 page 34

Illustrated London News 1846 vol.9 page 4

Illustrated London News 1847 vol.10 page 164

Stories (Person)

Robert FitzRoy

Tāmati Wāka Nene

Te Ruki Kawiti

Hōne Heke

George Grey

Stories (Events)

Battle of Ruapekapeka

Battle of Ōhaeawai

Battle of Puketutu

Hōne Heke cuts down the British flagstaff

The fall of Kororāreka

Publications

British Parliamentary Papers 1845 no.247 Copies or extracts of despatches from the Governor of New Zealand

British Parliamentary Papers 1846 no.712 Papers relative to the affairs of New Zealand: correspondence with Lieut.-Governor Grey

British Parliamentary Papers 1846 no.690 Further papers relative to the affairs of New Zealand

British Parliamentary Papers 1846 no.337 Copies or extracts of further correspondence between Lord Stanley and Governor FitzRoy, and Lieutenant-Governor Grey

Stories (Places)

Kororāreka

'Kororāreka (Russell), 1845', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/kororareka-painting-1845, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 10-Mar-2017

Relates to

Subject (keywords)New Zealand -- History -- New Zealand Wars, 1843-1847Ngā Pakanga Whenua o MuaNorthland (N.Z.) -- HistoryBay of Islands (N.Z.) -- HistoryPeopleHōne HekeTe Ruki KawitiGeorge GreyTāmati Wāka NeneRobert FitzRoyEventsThe fall of KororārekaBattle of ŌhaeawaiBattle of RuapekapekaBattle of Puketutu

Start typing here to find a location	Latitude	Longitude	Zoom	Actions

loading google map....

Save Cancel