Episode 1 of 3

First Flagstaff Cutting

Name: First Flagstaff Cutting
Start: 1844-07-08
Location: Maiki Hill

When: 8 July 1844
Where: Maiki Hill
Part of: Flagstaff War opens with the burning of Kororareka

Te Haratua cut down the flagstaff on Maiki Hill on 8 July 1844, initiating the conflict.

The flagstaff on Maiki Hill at the north end of Kororareka was cut down for the first time by Te Haratua, the chief of Pakaraka. This act was part of Heke's efforts to settle tribal grievances through the custom of 'te ngākau' with Te Ruki Kawiti.

Sources

Hōne Heke Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-23
Flagstaff War Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-22

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.