HISTORY - TREATY ONWARDS

Petitioned by the Europeans in the fledgling colony the British government eventually agreed to declare New Zealand a British possession. Captain Hobson, the first governor announced the decision in proclamations read in Christ Church Kororareka and on 6th February 1840 the founding document of New Zealand as a nation, The Treaty of Waitangi between Maori and the British Crown, was signed at Waitangi.

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 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 downtown. A local chief Hone Heke 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 on the 11 march 1845 involving 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.

Now included under the name of Russell the town was rebuilt and continued to serve shipping. Manganese mining at nearby Tikitikioure, a fish canning factory, and coal mining at Kawakawa brought steady prosperity.

From the 1920s Russell was discovered as an idyllic unspoilt place for holidays or retirement. The town's reputation was given a huge boost when American game fisherman and writer Zane Grey visited and praised the Bay's game fishing, leading to the town developing as a base for deep-sea game fishing.
In the 1930's a road was finally put through (now the Old Russell Road via the coast) which opened the town and peninsula up to tourism, fishing, oyster farming and the cottage industries which now provide employment. Visitors enjoy the Russell lifestyle all year round. It's not just a place; it's a state of mind.