Heritage New Zealand has released a number of Media Releases for the Christmas Break.
The Media Releases  are brief histories of individuals and events with a Northland focus.

We have collated them for you to read.

History sheds light on maritime hazards in Bay of Islands
“Brampton Bank is named after a nasty mishap which involved the ship Brampton running aground on the shallow unmarked reef in an easterly gale.”
Brampton Bank story[1]

Hokianga’s own ‘bogeyman’ still remembered fondly
Of all the characters that washed up on the Hokianga’s shores in the early 1820s, few have enjoyed the same reputation as Jacky ‘Cannibal Jack’ Marmon.
Cannibal Jack[1]

A cunning plan – not!
Of all the cunning plans devised by the Royal Navy over the centuries, few have been less cunning than a plot to take two Maori from the north of New Zealand, bring them back to Norfolk Island and use them to teach convicts how to work flax.
Kidnapped - at sea[1]

Rangatira’s strict rules a feature of Paihia mission
A formidable rangatira in his own right, Te Koki was careful to observe tapu restrictions, and expected the missionaries to do the same. His authority even extended to objects and servants within missionaries’ homes.
Te Koki - mission patron

The brief life of William Bean Junior
Life was hard for people in early New Zealand – and no more so than for the Bean family who helped establish the fledgling Kerikeri Mission Station in 1819.
The brief life of William Bean Junior

Titore’s royal armour – from one Rangatira to another
Titore – a rangatira of Kororareka (modern day Russell) – was no slouch when it came to writing letters.
Titore's Armour

Meet the Missionary who brought a taste of honey to New Zealand
Wesleyan missionary in the Hokianga, Mary Anna Bumby, was a real brick.
“Mary Anna had managed to establish a hive of bees at Mangungu in 1839 shortly after her arrival in the Hokianga with her brother,” says Bill.
“Honey produced in New Zealand – something we take for granted now – was unknown before Mary Anna had arrived with her bees. Her initiative and skills as an apiarist have given her a unique place in New Zealand history.”
Mary Anna Bumby story[1]

Pit your wits against the (Northland history) machine…
Fancy yourself as a bit of an expert when it comes to Northland history? Why not pit your wits against Heritage New Zealand’s new Path to Nationhood app and see how you go with these 10 questions.
Northland pop quiz[1]

Baron found himself ‘landless gentry’ in New Zealand
“James Busby, the British Resident at Waitangi, heard about de Thierry’s grand designs, and was alarmed. His response was to use the situation as an opportunity to call a hui of Northland Maori tribal leaders at Waitangi with the intention of thwarting de Thierry’s plans,” says Bill.
“The result was He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene – the Declaration of Independence – which asserted New Zealand’s independence as a sovereign nation, and which was signed by the Rangatira present.”
Charles de Thierry[1]

Kaeo a magnet for Methodist missionaries
"In 1823 Wesleyan missionaries arrived in the Bay of Islands, providing some competition for the Anglican missionaries of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) who were already established at Hohi and Kerikeri, and were just starting out at Paihia."
Kaeo - a magent for Methodists[1]