In 1830 Pōmare II's position as the principal chief of the Ngati Manu was consolidated during the Girls' War, which is the name given to fighting on the beach at Russell, New Zealand, then known as Kororāreka in March 1830 between northern and southern hapū of the Ngāpuhi.
Henry Williams, William Williams and other members of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) came over the bay from Paihia to attempt to mediate an end to the fighting.