Story: Northland region
Some northern chiefs were unhappy that British control undermined their traditional authority. They were also dissatisfied with the loss of commercial activity after the capital moved from Russell to Auckland in 1841. Hōne Heke challenged British sovereignty from 1844 and the result was war. This watercolour shows the destruction by British forces of a pā belonging to Pōmare II at Otuihu in the Bay of Islands. Pōmare was a largely innocent bystander in the dispute.
About this item
Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-079-032
Watercolour by John Williams
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.