1820–1821
Hongi Hika returns armed from England
At a glance
- When
- 1820–1821
- Where
- Bay of Islands (returning via Sydney), Northland · Northland
- Conflict
- Musket Wars (1807–1842)
- Involved
- Ngāpuhi
Location unconfirmed
The map point for this place has not been confirmed against a published reference yet. Treat it as indicative only. Public access to this location has not been established — please respect private land, urupā and wāhi tapu.
What happened here?
Hongi Hika travelled to England in 1820 with missionary Thomas Kendall and the chief Waikato, met King George IV — who gave him a suit of armour — and worked on an early Māori grammar at Cambridge. On the way home via Sydney he converted many of his gifts into muskets and powder. He arrived back in the Bay of Islands on 12 July 1821, and within two months led a musket-armed taua against Mauinaina pā at Tāmaki — the start of a decade of long-range campaigns that transformed the northern balance of power.