HEKE, HONE (?-1850). This famous Ngapuhi chief was born at Pa Karaka and was the son of Kau (brother of Pokaia) and Tupanapana, and descended from the Ngapuhi ancestor Rahiri. For a while he lived at Paihia with the Rev H. Williams. Though not himself of the highest rank, he made an influential marriage with Hariata, the daughter of Hongi Hika (q.v.).

Heke was rather a turbulent boy and as a young man used his high mana to levy tribute on travellers through his domain at Puketona. Though not fond of the martial life, his ambitions required that he should achieve a reputation. In 1830 he showed skill and bravery in battle at Kororareka; in 1833 he was wounded in the neck on Titore's expedition against Otumoetai pa (Tauranga). In 1837 he distinguished himself in fighting against Pomare and Te Mau-paraoa at Otuihu, when he narrowly escaped capture.

Educated by the missionaries, Heke acquired a deep knowledge of Scripture, which he turned to account in later years in controversies directed against the influence of the pakeha and the British Government. On being baptised, in the presence of the British resident (Busby) he took the name of Hone. He married first Ono (Lydia), the daughter of Te Pahi of Ngati Rehia, and they had one son, who died. He then again became rather troublesome. After 1837 he moved to Kaikohe, where again he kept the people unsettled. Heke disliked the steady encroachments of the pakeha upon Maori customs and mana, and contrasted gloomily the poor condition of his people after 1840 with their earlier prosperity and influence. For himself, the arrival of British sovereignty deprived him of the revenue he had been accustomed to levy from shipping at the Bay. As the most prominent chief at Bay of Islands, whose ambitions were well recognised, he had urged upon the chiefs gathered at Waitangi the need of protection, and when he signed the Treaty many others followed his lead. Nevertheless he disliked yielding up his mana to the Queen. His victory in the fight with Pana-Kareao in 1843 raised his prestige, and revived his grievance against the Governor over the punishment of Maketu.

Quick to take offence at pakeha arrogance, and burning with ambition to make a name for himself, Heke was furious at being called a pig by a Maori woman of his tribe who was married to a pakeha. He demanded her surrender, but eventually agreed to accept a cask of tobacco as utu. When this was not paid by the pakeha (Lord), Heke led his people into Kororareka (5 Jul 1844) and pillaged some of the stores. By now he was regarded by the missionaries as an apostate, and his influence with the natives in face of the decay of the old customs was much feared. He resented the removal of shipping and, regarding the flagstaff at Kororareka as a symbol of Maori deposition, he chafed to cut it down. On 8 Jul, after praying to both Christian and Maori gods, Heke led a war party and Haratua cut down the flagstaff. Troops and H.M.S. Hazard arrived at the Bay next month, but some of the friendly chiefs begged the Governor (FitzRoy) not to initiate hostilities. At a meeting at Waimate Heke paid ten muskets as utu and apologised for his outrage, but declared that the flagstaff was his property, cut from the forest of his own people.

Encouraged, it is said, by passages in the report of the House of Commons committee (1844) which seemed to question the wisdom of the Treaty of Waitangi, Heke continued his recalcitrant attitude, and again (on 10 Jan 1845) the flagstaff was cut down, and yet again on 18 Jan. A reward of £100 was then offered for his capture (to which he replied by offering a similar reward for the head of Governor FitzRoy). The flagstaff was re-erected and fortified with a blockhouse garrisoned by soldiers and men from the warship. On 1 Mar 1845 Heke again attacked the flagstaff hill. After severe fighting during the day the position was evacuated and the whole town abandoned to the enemy. The city of Auckland was alarmed at the arrival of refugees and reports that Kawiti had joined Heke and that an attack on the city was imminent.

Expecting retaliation by the troops, Heke and Kawiti built a pa (Okaihau) some distance inland. On 3 May a force of 400 soldiers and marines and an equal number of friendly natives was landed, and three days later the pa was assaulted in a frontal attack, which was unsuccessful for lack of artillery. The British retreated with the loss of 14 killed and 39 wounded, and Heke sallied out of the pa and attacked the friendlies. In this fighting he received a gunshot wound in the thigh, which prevented him taking further part in this campaign. He now established himself at Ohaeawai, 40 miles inland. Colonel Despard landed a larger force on 16 Jun, and on the 22nd paraded at Waimate 630 men of the 58th, 96th and 99th Regiments and from H.M.S. Hazard, with four guns and a strong force of friendlies. Heke's garrison in the pa numbered 250, all armed with guns. Artillery opened on the 24th, without effect until a 32-pounder from the warship breached the palisade. A sudden sally of Heke against the friendlies under Nene resulted in the capture of a Union Jack and the narrow escape of several British staff officers. An assault delivered on the pa on 1 Jul failed, and the troops withdrew to a distance of 400 yards. Two days later Heke hoisted a flag of truce to enable the British to carry off their dead (44) and wounded (66). On the 9th a few more shells were thrown into the work and on the morning of the 10th it was found that the defenders had evacuated the pa. The troops accordingly took possession and five days later retired to the coast. FitzRoy determined to give the enemy time in which to consider the advisability of asking for peace. Heke's mana, however, was now very high, since he had thrice ostensibly beaten the British trained soldiers.

With the arrival of Grey to assume the governorship (in Nov 1845), affairs assumed a new aspect. Though Kawiti had constructed a very strong pa at Ruapekapeka, Heke had in the meantime realised the disadvantage at which he was placed by the neglect of planting, so that he was faced with a probable shortage of provisions for the coming campaign. He was held in his pa at Ikorangi by a feint attack while the British forces, with nine guns, were gradually marshalled before Kawiti's position at Ruapekapeka. Colonel Hulme had 1,173 soldiers and seamen and 450 native allies, with 43 guns. On 2 Jan 1846 Kawiti made a sortie from the pa, but was driven back. On the 10th a cannonade effected two small breaches in the palisade. On the following morning (being Sunday) Kawiti retired to the rear of the pa to rest. Heke's reinforcements were in the bush close at hand holding their religious service when British scouts ascertained the weakness of the position, and it was quickly and quietly occupied with slight resistance. After the fall of Ruapekapeka the influence of Heke diminished, and his followers dwindled away rapidly. He made peace through his wife Hariata, who saw Grey. Heke remained disaffected in his last years, but made no further attempt at revolt, and he died on 6 Aug 1850. His widow married Arama Karaka. Heke at one stage called himself John William Heke Pokai.

G.B.O.P., 1850/1136, p. 17; 1851/1420, pp. 30, 33; 1854/1779, p. 119; A. N. Brown; Carleton, Marsden, L. and J.; Davis; S. P. Smith; Buick, First War (p); Bowen; Selwyn, Annals (p); Rusden; Buller.

Reference: Volume 1, page 206

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