Hone Heke Mini Biography

 Born: 1807, Pakaraka

Died: 7 August 1850, Kaikohe

Spouse: Hariata Rongo (m. 1837–1850)

Children: Hoani, Marianne

Parents: Te Kona, Tupanapana

Who is Hone Heke?

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 Māori 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 Māori 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 colonisation to bring his people

economic prosperity and by the increasing control of the British government over

Māori affairs, Heke ordered the cutting down of the flagpole at the British settlement of

Kororāreka (which had recently been renamed Russell). This was intended to show

displeasure at the British government without threatening Pākehā settlers.

Over the following months, the flagpole was re-erected and cut down again three times.

The final felling, in March 1845, signalled war between British troops and some northern Māori.

His early life?

Heke was probably born around 1808. He came under the influence

of missionaries as a teenage student at the Kerikeri Mission School.

He was baptised a Christian in 1835 and took on the name Hone (John).

He has strong friendships with the missionaries, especially Henry Williams,

for much of his adult life.