Left Russell today and drove to our next B&B at Omapere on the north west coast. Before leaving we again saw several of the flightless weka birds that are endemic to NZ. They appear to be quite at ease coming close to people in the hope of getting some food. In fact they are a bit of a nuisance! We also went up the hill from our B&B to see a flagstaff that has historical and symbolic significance concerning the early relations between the local Maori and the British colonials. On this site, in the early years following the signing of the treaty at Waitangi, the flagstaff bearing the Union Jack had been repeatedly cut down by the Maori chief Hone Heke in protest at the loss of Maori control of NZ. Eventually peace was made and the Maori, at their own instigation, erected in 1858 the fifth flagstaff. This flagstaff still stands to this day and is symbolic of the goodwill of the Maori people towards the British sovereign.