Jul 8, 2026 · 29 min
This episode is part of my new Osprey-sponsored Redcoat Vs... series - here is a link to their books - http://ospreypublishing.com/ In 1845, British redcoats arrived in northern New Zealand expecting a simple colonial campaign. What they found instead was a brutal lesson in Māori warfare. Behind walls of sharpened timber, hidden trenches, loopholes, underground shelters and cleverly designed pā fortifications, Māori warriors showed the British Army that courage and bayonets were not enough. In this episode of Redcoat Vs..., we look at the Flagstaff War which is also known as Hōne Heke’s War or the Northern War. We examine the fighting at Kororāreka, Ōhaeawai and Ruapekapeka, the strengths and weaknesses of the redcoats, the brilliance of Māori pā design, and the hard lessons the British learned in New Zealand. Join the patreon for early access to content and regular updates from me - www.patreon.com/redcoathistory