Bay of Islands

12th February 2014: Sailing Northward from Auckland towards the tip of the North Island you come across the Bay of Islands. A sheltered bay with Islands, Beaches, Boats, Dolphins, Forests, Hotels and Gift shops. No wonder Cook on both his world tours stopped here. Apparently he initially had problems with the local Maoris, something about putting their towels on the beaches first, but it was quickly all cleared up when he told them about Cooks tours.

Unfortunately, by 1830, the local town of Russell had become a pretty wild place; a real club 18-30. In fact the local Maoris objected so much, that they took direct action and the local Chief, Hone Heke, cut down the flagstaff and then burned all the houses down except for the church which still has musket-ball holes in it.

Eventually in 1840, all the Maoris chiefs lead by this Hone Heke signed a Peace Treaty with the British at Waitangi, (above) when they accepted British rule and in return the crown agreed to protect Maoris possessions and land. The treaty house is now part of large estate and also contains the Ngatoki Matawhaorual, one of the largest Maoris war canoes.  In 1990 Queen Elizabeth came for the 150th celebrations.