Hongi Hika

Hongi Hika (1772-1828) was a Maori chief during the early 19th century, and was one of the first Maori chiefs to use European weapons such as muskets in battle. Hika also supported European settlement in New Zealand and regularly traded with the settlers for weapons, and other items, including Western agricultural implements and techniques, as well as new crop such potatoes, which he introduced to the Maori. Hika also supported the transliteration of the Maori language into writing, and even visited England and met King George IV.

Hongi Hika rose to prominence between 1806 an 1812 as a major war leader of the Ngapuhi tribe. It was during this time that firearms first fell into the hands of the Maori, and Hika first became convinced of their value, in spite of his defeat by the Ngati Whatua tribe at the Battle of Moremonui, which he lost in spite of his possession of muskets- Hika's warriors were attacked while reloading and killed with traditional Maori weapons.

After the war, from 1814-1819, Hongi traded with Europeans, granting lands to missionaries in exchange for trade goods, though he never converted to Christianity. Around the same period, he travelled to Australia to study European agricultural and military techniques, and to trade for muskets, ammunition, and other weapons.

In 1818, Hongi conquered the tribes of the East Cape and Bay of Plenty regions of the North Island of New Zealand. Starting in 1819, until 1821, Hika visited England, and traded more muskets in exchange for land rights to European settlers. Hongi also introduced himself to George IV as the King of New Zealand, though this may have been an act of bravado rather than indicative of his actual ambitions.

When he returned armed with his muskets, Hongi seized a fort on the Tamaki River, killing 2000 warriors, as well as an unknown number of women and children. In 1822, he attacked the Waikato region, but met his match in their chief, Te Wherowhero, who had by this point also gotten a hold of muskets, and was forced to make peace in 1823 after a few major battles. The series of intertribal conflicts after the acquisition of firearms by the Maori became known as the Musket Wars.

In 1825, Hika defeated the Ngati Whatua tribe, avenging his defeat at Moremonui, and seizing the vast natural harbors of Waitemata and Manukau. He also used the lands he conquered around the Tamaki River as a buffer zone. In 1826, Hongi conquered Whangeroa, in retaliation for their attack on Wesleyan missionaries allied with Hongi.

Hongi Hika died in 1827 when he was shot at a minor engagement in Hokianga. Hika survived for another 14 months, before he died of infection. On his death bed, Hika told his followers to "be courageous", and to fight against British attempts to invade New Zealand. Hika's legacy of modernization of the Maori indeed proved to be a nasty surprise for the British about a decade later, when Hika's nephew, Hone Heke rebelled against the British, though they eventually were able to defeat him thanks their overwhelming artillery and naval superiority.