In one of the most famous episodes of the New Zealand wars, Ngāpuhi rangatira Hone Heke cut down the flagstaff flying the Union Jack, earlier gifted by him to British resident James Busby, three times in 1844 and 1845 in protest at encroaching British authority over the north. After the British built and manned a blockhouse on the site, Heke and his forces attacked in force on 11 March 1845, felling the flagstaff for a fourth time, prompting the sacking of Kororāreka (Russell) and opening the Northern War.

The flagstaff was not re-erected by the Crown after the Northern war. It was not until January 1858 that it was re-erected by Ngāpuhi and named Whakakotahitanga (standing together as one people), standing 29 metres tall. The 20th century took a significant toll on the flagstaff, however, with the site overrun with gorse for many years and badly damaged by fire in 1913 that shortened the staff to its current height of 8 metres. Despite being nearly cut through by drunken naval ratings in 1954, felled twice in 1981 and even bombed with gelignite in 1983, it survived and following extensive repairs in 1992–1993 remains standing in a DOC reserve.

Learn more

• Department of Conversation factsheet
• Vincent O'Malley ‘A Living Thing’: The Whakakotahitanga Flagstaff and its Place in New Zealand History
• Vincent O'Malley Flying the Flag: The Maiki Hill Flagstaff, Kororareka (with historical pictures of the flagpole)