Hone Heke

Bay of Islands Nga Puhi chief Hone Heke  was an influential Maori voice in favour of the Treaty of Waitangi. However he later became a leading opponent of British rule in New Zealand.

Heke, a Christian, had a close relationship with missionary Henry Williams, and, at the signing of the Treaty in 1840, he believed Williams' assurances that the authority of Maori chiefs would be protected.

'Governor,' he told Hobson, 'you should stay with us and be like a father. If you go away, then the French and the rum sellers will take us Maori over.' The following day, he was the first of more than 40 northern chiefs to sign (although his signature is fourth, those of more senior chiefs having later been inserted ahead of his).

Four years later, disillusioned by the failure of colonialism to bring his people economic prosperity and by the increasing control of the British government over Maori affairs, Heke ordered the cutting down of the flagpole at the British settlement Kororareka (later renamed Russell). This was intended to show displeasure at British government, yet not threaten the Pakeha settlers. Over the following months, it was re-erected and cut down again three times. In 1845, this protest action resulted in war between British troops and northern Maori.

• Find out more: biography of Hone Heke on the DNZB website