1845: The Sacking of Russell

March 11, 2021

By AHNZ

Today in history, 11 March, 1845, Russell (aka Kororareka) was destroyed. Sacked by Maoris then bombarded to pieces by The State! Both sides looted what remained.

The Government first came to this principal settlement in 1840 to overthrow it. Lieutenant-Governor Hobson established his domination over the New Zealanders here, making it his capital, then The State moved on to do the same at the more difficult target of free folk at Port Nicholson. The people of Kororareka must have wished Hobson never came as their home was ash within 5 years of his coming; They all fled to Auckland.

The following clip from ‘The Governor’ (1977) shows the action. The explosions and smashing up of the expensive-looking set probably also shows why this state-funded miniseries was over budget!

Below is my photo of a 175 year old bullet hole in the surviving Anglican Church.

“The battle was the first signal by Māori at the dissatisfaction over the state of affairs five years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi”- TVNZ (2020)

Guess the Wairau Massacre of 1843 isn’t enough of a ‘signal’ for TVNZ then!

When last I visited I had Reed’s illustrated history of New Zealand with me and was delighted to match the old book with the way things look now. Here’s the photo

There’s lots more to know about what happened today in history. More than what the State history books or media organ will tell. I’m keen to dig deeper and find out what really happened that led to the Government bombarding New Zealand’s first capital into wreckage.

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Image ref. AHNZ Archives (2015)

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