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Home | Summary | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | Disclaimer | CopyrightCARLINE DUFFY TRAVEL BLOG - DAY 4TRIP TO BAY OF ISLANDS NEW ZEALAND - 23 Aug 2017 to 02 Sep 2017 DAY ATTRACTIONS 04 Sat 26 Sep 2017 Paihia - Russell - Original Capital NZ
a Russell - condensed history - Original Capital NZ
b Christ Church & Cemetery Plan
c Queen's Road View of Bay of Islands
Today (lovely weather again!) we jumped on a ferry and went over to Russell $ 12.00 round trip per
person which takes 20 min each way
Russell, formerly known as Kororareka, was the original capital city of New Zealand!
It had amazing history as we found out during a guided Russell mini bus tour of one hour. Very well
worth it!
Quaint little town full of history, not unlike Key West, Florida, in architecture and ambience. Took
many photos.
We saw the Pompallier Mission House which had printed 40,000 bibles in Maori and English, the
Duke of Marlborough Hotel which claims it has been refreshing 'rascals and reprobates since 1827',
the Flagstaff Historical Reserve and Clendon Cottage
We learned that the famous Author Zane Grey 1872-1939 who owned a property in Russell in the 1920s
was a key person in encouraging game fishing (Marlin, Swordfish, Hammerhead Shark, Kingfish) and the
Russell Swordfish Club is the oldest game fishing club in New Zealand and the second oldest in the
world
During the coach tour we drove up to the top of Queen's View Road (named after Queen Elizabeth
1963 visit when they built the road for her for the best view of the Bay of Islands) where we had a
grandstand view of a pod of dolphins jumping out of the water and racing to the beach - very
exciting to watch
We also visited Flagstaff Hill which had a long history of the Maoris under Rangatira (Chief) Hone
Heke WARANA chopping down the Flagstaff during the many wars between the settlers and the
Maoris after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 06 Feb 1840
We then walked around Russell and visited the oldest existing Church in New Zealand "Christ
Church"
Originally Russell was called "Kororareka" and in 1830s with increased shipping in the Bay of
Islands. a number of undesirable characters chose to make it their home as there was no law
enforcement.
Most of the buildings were burnt down at one time or another.
Apparently there was no wilder, wickeder or more disorderly community in the entire Pacific nor a
more favoured refuge for ruffians of all races than Kororareka who lured young Maori women and
girls into dubious temptations, often for the simplest of trades, eg an iron nails
This trouble spot, the thorn in the flesh for the Maori leaders and the missionaries, led to an
agreement in 1834 between the Maoris and the missionaries to buy land for a Church and for the
Maori and the Pakeha (Whites) to have equal rights of burial on original Maori lands
This was faithfully honoured until 1970 when the church cemetery was closed
In1835 the Church was completed and services were started around Nov 1935
On 04 Jan 1839 Dr BROUGHTON first Bishop of Australia consecrated the burial ground
On 29 Jan 1840 HMS Herald dropped anchor off Kororeraka and Captain William HOBSON invited
Maori and Europeans to the Christ Church on the 30 Jan 1840 where two proclamations were
read:
1 An Extension of Boundaries of New South Wales Australia to include New Zealand
2 The Appointment of Captain HOBSON as Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand
These Proclamations were signed by Maori Chiefs and leading citizens
A week later on the 6 Feb 1840 across the harbour at Waitangi, about 40 Bay of Islands Maori chiefs
with Hone Heke WARANA (1808-1850) as the first Maori signature, signed the Treaty that was to
make New Zealand a part of the British Empire
Hone Heke was very friendly with the missionaries and was baptised as a Christian in 1835
Although the Maori Chief Hone Heke Warana attacked and dismantled the Flagstaff 4 times between
1840 and 1845 he appears to have been buried at the Christ Church Cemetery as there is a small
headstone is flat on the ground with only his name on it - no dates.
There is a Churchyard plan of all those buried at "Christ Church"
In 1844 Kororareka was renamed Russell and the capital of New Zealand moved to Auckland until
Wellington was named the Capital in 1865
On the ferry back we talked with an interesting lady farmer and daughter who gave us ideas of where to
go next such as the Kerikeri Waterfall which was opened up in Apr 2017 after 40 years of being cut
off and what not to miss. Great day!!
Steve cooked dinner at home that night, which was very good and he went to watch a very exciting
New Zealand v Australia Rugby match 35 - 29 which New Zealand won in the last minute of the
Game
This was a fitting result as the great Colin MEADS had died on Sun 20 Aug 2017 at the age of 81 and
the number 5 Sam WHITELOCK was donating his rugby shirt with CE MEADS NZ Rugby number 583
embroidered on the shirt to the Meads family .
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