Biography: Hongi Hika.

Born: 1772.

Died: 6 March 1828.

Hongi Hika (1772-1828)

Hongi Hika was one of the most feared Maori chiefs of the nineteenth century. Along with Te Wherowhero and Te Rauparaha, he dominated New Zealand warfare during the Musket Wars of the 1820s. Driven by a desire for utu over Ngati Whatua, he cultivated relationships with European missionaries and traders to gain the weapons and resources needed to defeat his enemies in battle. In the end, his influence opened the way towards the colonisation of New Zealand by Europeans, culminating in the Treaty of Waitangi.

Historical Background

Hongi Hika was born in 1772 at Kaikohe in the North Island of New Zealand. The son of Te Hotete of Nga Puhi and Tuhikura of Ngati Rehia, he spent much of his childhood in Pakinga, where he learnt the art of war at the military academy dedicated to the Maori god of war, Tu. At the age of 35, Hongi Hika participated in his first battle at Moremonui (1807), where he lost his two brothers, Houwawe and Hau Moka, and his sister, Waitapu, thereby creating a point of contention between him and Ngati Whatua. After fighting several battles with northern tribes between 1808 and 1818, Hongi Hika travelled to England in 1820, where he received a suit of armour from King George IV and 300 muskets, which he brought with him back to New Zealand. During the Musket Wars, he fought Waikato at Matakitaki (1822) and Ngati Whatua at Te Ika-a-ranganui (1825) before being mortally wounded by a musket ball at Whangaroa in 1827. He died on 6 March 1828 at the age of 56.

Historical Influences

Hongi Hika was primarily influenced by the Battle of Moremonui and his relationships with Europeans and whanau. From an early age, Hongi Hika grew up in a warrior society that taught all males to be warriors. Indeed, according to Dorothy Urlich Cloher, “It was said that while Hongi was in England and had access to libraries, a favourite occupation of his was examining diagrams of Napoleon Bonaparte’s battle formations and strategies” (Cloher, 2003, p.52). The driving force of his life was to avenge his siblings' deaths at the Battle of Moremonui. This, in turn, led him to cultivate friendships with European missionaries and sailors. Although Hongi never adopted Christianity, he saw the missionaries as a means to gain access to muskets and other resources. Despite his reputation as a war leader, however, Hongi also had a gentle side. As Angela Ballara explained, “At home he was a mild, gentle and courteous man. He supervised the planting and harvesting of crops; he worked alongside his people with their fishing nets” (Ballara, 1990). He also loved his wives and children deeply, and when his son, Hare Hongi, was killed at the Battle of Te Ika-a-ranganui in 1825, he became depressed and saddened by his loss.

Key Battle

Hongi Hika’s signature battle was the Battle of Moremonui (1807). As the Nga Puhi army under Pokaia encamped at Moremonui Gully, south of Maunganui Bluff, an army of Ngati Whatua warriors ambushed them and drove them out onto the beach. While Nga Puhi musketeers inflicted severe losses on Ngati Whatua, the Ngati Whatua leader, Taoho, charged towards Pokaia and killed him with his mere. As the Nga Puhi army began to flee, Taoho ordered Teke to draw a line in the sand to stop Ngati Whatua from pursuing their distant relatives. However, Hongi Hika’s sister, Waitapu, was killed while covering their retreat. Ron Crosby explained, “This battle was to be a primary driving force behind Ngapuhi’s warring activities for many years, until revenge was finally obtained in 1825” (Crosby, 1999, p.47).

Moremonui (1807)

Historical Significance

In many ways, Hongi Hika's actions had far-reaching consequences for New Zealand’s history. His campaigns during the Musket Wars sparked an arms race across the North Island as tribes sought to acquire more muskets for self-defence against Nga Puhi. While Hongi was a great military leader, he never saw himself as a conqueror and never occupied the regions he campaigned in. Indeed, when missionaries suggested that he become a Maori king, he declined, preferring instead to attract shipping and encourage trade between Maori and Europeans. However, according to Eru Kapa-Kingi, when Hongi returned from England in 1820, he warned Maori that the British military and clergy would be used to conquer and convert them away from their connection to the Earth Mother, Papatuanuku. Within two decades, these fears would come true as the British established a presence in New Zealand through the Treaty of Waitangi and sought to acquire ever more Maori land during the New Zealand Wars.

Bibliography

Ballara, Angela. “Hongi Hika.” Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Last revised 1990. https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1h32/hongi-hika

Cloher, Dorothy Urlich. Hongi Hika: Warrior Chief. Auckland, Viking, 2003.

Crosby, R.D. The Musket Wars: A History of Inter-Iwi Conflict 1806-45. Auckland, Reed Books, 1999.

Smith, Percy. “Hongi Hika.” Wikimedia Commons. Last revised January 24, 2011. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hongi_Hika.jpg