1,000 years ago
Dating back about a
1,000 years the Maori Ngare Raumati iwi (tribe) arrived in voyaging
waka to the sub-tropical paradise of the Bay of Islands. Russell
known in pre-European times as Kororareka was just one of many
small settlements in the area with populations fluctuating
seasonally as inland Maori came to the coast to fish.
Kororareka
(Russell) was named when a Maori chief wounded in battle sipped on
broth made from the little blue penguin. He was believed to have
said "Ka reka te korora - how sweet is penguin". This lead to the
name of the town. Today, after dark, little blue penguins can be
found coming ashore to nest under the floorboards of waterfront
buildings.
1700's
In November 1769 James Cook anchored
near Motuarohia Island, just off the Russell peninsula. He sent
boats to explore the shore line and bays. James Cook's diaries note
they found "several little plantations planted with potatoes
and yams" and people willing to trade "quantities of
various sorts of fish which we purchased off them". Cook noted
villages and kumara gardens as well as more Maori in the bay than
anywhere else they had visited. He also made note of the relative
harmony in which they appeared to live.
1800's
The Pacific whalers
started to arrive in the 1800's and used the Bay of Islands and
Russell to stock up on the necessities of life at sea, trading
happily with the local iwi, repairing their vessels and providing
leisure time for their crew. Russell was soon to be nick-named the
hell-hole of the Pacific as brothels and liquor stores traded with
the rough and rowdy whalers.
In 1820 the French
explorer Dumont d'Urville on his first visit records the beginnings
of European contact and influence, with Maori involved in providing
supplies for visiting shipping - fish, greens, pork, kumera and
fresh water.
During the 1800's the
Ngapuhi iwi began to dominate the region and is now the largest iwi
in New Zealand.
In 1830 the importance
of trade with visiting ships for local Maori is illustrated in the
Girls War where two tribal groups lobbying to trade with a ships
Captain got into an a bloody dispute.
Mid 1800's
Eventually the British
government adhered to the desires of European settlers and declared
New Zealand a British possession. The first governor, Captain
Hobson announced the decision in proclamations read in Russell's
Christ Church (New Zealand's oldest church) . Then on 6 February
1840 The Treaty of Waitangi between Maori and the British Crown was
signed at Waitangi... just across the bay from Russell.
The new colony now needed a capital
but Kororareka was considered unsuitable partly because of its
unsavoury reputation. Instead the capital was established up
harbour at Okiato and called Russell. But even Okiato's tenure as
capital was short lived and the administration was soon moved to
Auckland.
As a result much of the shipping
started bypassing the Bay. Early land sales were investigated so
land values fell. Local Maori were unhappy with the imposition of
harbour dues, their loss of power and authority, and the economic
downturn. Hone Heke, a local chief led a faction to express their
discontent by cutting down the flagstaff and the British Union Jack
on Maiki hill above the town.
The flagstaff was restored but cut
down again three more times, the last felling was on 11 March 1845
and involved another chief, Kawiti and local hapu Kapotai in a
three pronged attack on the town. The Battle of Korareka was won by
Maori (helped by the accidental explosion of the town's ammunition
store) who sacked and burnt the town sparing only Christ Church,
Pompallier and a few buildings at the south end of the beach. The
settlers evacuated and fled to Auckland and it was years before any
settlers returned.
Late 1800's
Under the new name of
Russell those remaining, rebuilt the town continuing to serve
shipping. Prosperity resulted in nearby Mangenese mining, a fish
canning factory and coal mining at nearby Kawakawa. In 1870 the old
Custom House was built and still stands today as the local Police
Station.
Early 1900's
Tourism for the region was born upon the acceptance of an
invitation to a famous American writer and adventurer, Zane Grey.
His praise of the big game fishing off Russell lead to the
development of Russell as the base for big game fishing.
In the 1930's the Old Russell Road was built opening the
peninsula up to tourism, fishing, oyster farming and cottage
industries which continue to provide employment for local
communities.