Last Monday Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy took part in a reconciliation ceremony atop Russell's Maiki (Flagstaff) Hill — 160 years to the day after her predecessor, Governor Thomas Gore Browne, was first invited by Maihi Kawiti. The Ngati Hine leader and son of the warrior chief Te Ruki Kawiti had erected the flagpole in 1858, replacing a previous pole put up then repeatedly cut down by Hone Heke, as a gesture of reconciliation and unity between Maori and the Crown.
Read more here: Crown accepts peace offer 160 years later
Photos by Peter de Graaf.
![Warriors lead the Governor-General's party up a path to the flagpole. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/HH2IVZMSOJJM7CSN4FN4BVUZQA.jpg?auth=17a26ea060b8af8a2b6b95a3c75f7efa537067f0c8cac8da6461b7dc3de84498&width=16&height=10&quality=70&smart=true)
![Former Waitangi National Trust chair Pita Paraone escorts Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy to the flagpole. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/7CD7X6LRW2EIGJ6IIX7ZUUOQLU.jpg?auth=40288c3cbe2198e1f57abfe62dd28ecb9d5f738a1d3507ff1dd32146d66a00d0&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
![Master carver Te Warahi Hetaraka, of Whangarei, and former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, of Russell, take the path up to the flagpole. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/2Y4PXEITSYZHGIGFCLB4H5DLEY.jpg?auth=70df83f80e78ae144abaf34ce43d5f49735508ef40abb0e5358273f9fb6501d6&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
![Isaiah Apiata escorts the Governor-General and other manuhiri (guests) to the flagpole. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/DLBALCB5VLVY7VCIK4KEDOXXRA.jpg?auth=71bf21f71ba085da68e5db9f506225011759b658272e0ecf9775a43c09991425&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)