Hone Heke was a prominent Māori chief from the Ngāpuhi iwi in New Zealand during the 19th century. He is best known for his role in the New Zealand Wars, particularly for leading a series of uprisings against British colonial authority in the 1840s. Heke opposed the increasing influence of European settlers and the loss of Māori land and sovereignty. Heke's most famous act of defiance was the repeated cutting down of the Flagstaff at Russell, which symbolized his resistance to British rule. His actions sparked significant conflict, leading to the Northern War and highlighting the tensions between Māori and European settlers during this period of New Zealand's history.