Hundreds of people from around the country gathered in Northland for the first official commemorations of the New Zealand Wars.
The commemorations, called Te Putake o Te Riri (The Cause of the Anger), began on Friday at Te Tii Marae with a traditional challenge and earth-shaking haka from both Taitokerau Tira Haka (Northland's mass haka group) and the visitors.
It continued on Saturday with tours of the battle sites at Ohaeawai and Ruapekapeka while on Sunday - which marked 173 years since the war began - the focus switched to Russell.
Northern Advocate's Bay of Islands reporter Peter de Graaf captured Friday's events while Russell-based photographer Stephen Western was there as dignitaries, iwi, and the public proceeded through the streets of Kororareka.
