January 07, 2026

Remembering Te Ruapekapeka -The Last Battle of the Northern War

Matthew Tukaki Posted On January 7, 2026

This January, Aotearoa marks another anniversary of one of the most significant conflicts in New Zealand’s early colonial history – Te Ruapekapeka, the final battle of the Northern War in 1845–46.

The name Ruapekapeka means “the bats’ nest” – a reference to the sophisticated underground tunnels and shelters that were part of the pā’s design. It was not just any fortification but a remarkable example of Māori military ingenuity, crafted under the leadership of Te Ruki Kawiti and his ally Hōne Heke, drawing on traditional knowledge and adapting to the realities of musket and cannon warfare.

In early January 1846, about 400 Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Hine warriors defended Ruapekapeka Pā against a much larger British force – some 1,600 soldiers and Māori allies supporting the Crown – in what became the culminating engagement of the Northern War. After weeks of heavy bombardment, British troops entered the pā on 11 January, but most Māori defenders had already withdrawn into the surrounding bush, suggesting a tactical decision rather than a simple defeat.

Because the pā was cleverly designed to absorb and withstand artillery fire, and because Heke and Kawiti’s forces managed to withdraw largely intact, historians continue to debate the outcome – many see it not strictly as a British victory but as a drawn conflict with strategic Māori resilience.

Beyond the battlefield itself, Te Ruapekapeka stands as a powerful symbol of Māori resistance, adaptation and rangatiratanga during the early colonial era – a time when the promises guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi were already under strain. Iwi warriors fought not out of a desire for war, but in defence of their tino rangatiratanga – self-determination – and their rights as articulated in the Treaty.

Today, the site near Kawakawa in Te Tai Tokerau is a Tohu Whenua National Historic Place, where visitors can walk among the earthworks and appreciate the genius of Māori pā design – strong enough to challenge British cannon and leave a legacy of courage and strategy.

The anniversary of Te Ruapekapeka is not just about remembering a battle – it’s about remembering our shared history, the meanings of conflict and peace, and the resilience of tangata whenua. For many of us Māori today, it is a time to reflect on how our tūpuna stood firm in defence of their values and whenua, and how that spirit lives on in whānau and hapū across the motu.

As we remember those who stood at Te Ruapekapeka, we also commit to learning from the past – to uphold justice, partnership under the Treaty, and unity among all peoples of Aotearoa.

He maumaharatanga tēnei – let us remember together.