19 January

1845 Hōne Heke cuts down the British flagstaff - again

The first Māori to sign the Treaty of Waitangi, Ngāpuhi chief Hōne Heke Pōkai soon became disenchanted with the consequences of colonisation. Read more...

1967 Nineteen killed in Strongman mine explosion at Rūnanga

Nineteen men were killed when an explosion ripped through the Strongman coal mine at Rūnanga. An inquiry found that safety regulations had not been followed and a shot hole for a charge had been incorrectly fired. Read more...