Story: He Whakaputanga – Declaration of Independence

This 1836 image of Kororāreka (later called Russell) shows European buildings along the shore and mainly Māori waka (canoes) in the bay and on the shore. While it was originally a Māori settlement, it had become a base for Europeans by the early 1830s. Its lawlessness was one of the reasons that Māori began to appeal to Britain for protection. In 1833 James Busby was sent to New Zealand as British Resident (an official position).