Photo: Peter de Graaf
A ceremony on a Bay of Islands hilltop at dawn on Wednesday aims to preserve the memory of a war that changed New Zealand history - and make sure the stories are passed on to a new generation.
Early on 11 March, 1845, fighters loyal to NgΔpuhi chief Hone Heke chopped down the flagpole at Russell, then still better known as KororΔreka, for the fourth time.
The felling of the flagstaff was a signal for men led by Hone Heke and NgΔti Hine chief Te Ruki Kawiti to attack the Bay of Islands town.
In the ensuing battle most of the town's European inhabitants were evacuated to Auckland, and about 20 MΔ
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