Hokianga / Kaikohe
Hokianga-Nui-A-Kupe – The Place of Kupe’s Great Return
The giant Kauri trees of the Waipoua Forest act as the southern sentinels for both the Far North district and the historic Hokianga Harbour - the undisputed jewel of Northland’s west coast.
Known also as Te Kohanga o Te Tai Tokerau (the nest of the northern tribes), it is the central point from which most Northland Maori trace their ancestry. Hokianga is home to a number of historic missionary settlements dating back as far as 1827. Settlement is predominantly closely associated with the harbour and its adjoining coastal valleys.
In the south, well maintained tracks give access to Waipoua forest giants like 1400-year-old Tane Mahuta and 2000-year-old Te Matua Ngahere. Other forest walks include Yakas Track Lookout Walk and the Waiotemarama Kauri and waterfall walk. Coastal walks such as Signal Station Walk provide both a sense of history and awesome views of the coast, harbour and sand dunes up to 300 metres high. State Highway 12 is the west coast link between the Far North and Kaipara districts, and is the main west coast tourist route. For the visitor there is plenty to do and see, including horse treks, a craft trail, carving, a maze, a distinctive boulder valley, bush walks, sand dunes, fishing, boating, harbour cruises, guided night bush walks, swimming and golf.
Visitor numbers have been increasing steadily in recent years and many of them use the Council’s ferry service as a direct link across the harbour. The Council also operates an i-SITE Visitor Information Centre at Opononi.
The vehicle ferry provides a fast, comfortable trip across the Hokianga Harbour. It travels between Rawene and the Narrows near Kohukohu.
Omapere and Opononi
The twin settlements of Omapere and Opononi, near the Hokianga Harbour entrance have a resident population which is boosted substantially in the summer season by day visitors, the tourist trade, and holiday-home owners.
Omapere and Opononi are the gateway to the Hokianga Harbour for visitors to the district from the south. The Council operates an i-SITE visitor information centre at Opononi.
Opononi was made internationally famous in the 1950s by “Opo” the dolphin who took up residence in the sheltered harbour waters and intermingled freely with the local community.
Pakanae
Pakanae, two kilometres from Opononi, is a small historic Maori settlement. Outside Pakanae marae stands a monument to Kupe the legendary Maori explorer who discovered New Zealand. Kupe is believed to have settled in the Pakanae area before his journey to Hawaiki to encourage the migration of the Maori people to this land. The legend of Kupe gave rise to the claim that Hokianga is the true cradle of New Zealand settlement.
Waimamaku
Waimamaku was originally best known for its world famous cheeses. A small rural town, an annual attraction is the Waimamaku Wild Fest.
Rawene
Rawene is New Zealand’s third oldest European settlement and in the early 19th century grew with the development of the coastal trade in timber. The oldest building is the historic Clendon House.
Rawene is home to the only public hospital facility in the Hokianga/Kaikohe area, and the base for ancillary medical services for the Hokianga district. It is also the base for Northland Polytech education services in the area.
Rawene was originally the headquarters for the former Hokianga County Council. The Far North District Council continues to maintain a service centre, hall, pensioner units, library facility and a mangrove walkway in the township.
The Rawene mangrove walkway was built as a community project to allow people to get close to the mangroves and historic sites. The walkway is built on the site of a century old timber mill and box factory and provides visitors with a fascinating view of a unique and valuable wetland habitat. The stop bank which forms some of the walk was made of Sydney rocks used as ballast by the ships exporting kauri timber. The mangrove walkway is open all year, free of charge and has wheelchair access.
Horeke
Horeke is the second oldest European settlement in New Zealand, which as early as 1826 was host to a once thriving ship-building industry; in fact the first mechanical timber mill was in Horeke. Horeke was called Deptford in the olden days and was the oldest settlement in the Hokianga.
As well as being the home of the Mangungu Mission House and world famous Wairere Boulders, it is also the site of the first Post Office of New Zealand, the oldest pub and some of the oldest graves in New Zealand.
Kohukohu
Established in the 1820s, Kohukohu developed and prospered in the timber trade and at one time was the largest social and cultural centre in the north. A number of well-preserved 19th century kauri wood colonial buildings still remain from Kohukohu’s economic heydays.
The first power timber mill was built in Kohukohu in 1879 and operated until about 1886. This year also saw the start of a regular steamship service between Kohukohu and Auckland.
In 1888 the Kauri Timber Co. re-established milling operations and developed what was to become the largest mill in the Southern Hemisphere. In 1909 the mill closed down and in 1912 it was demolished. Over this 30-year period milling and the timber trade was the basis of the local economy. In later years Kohukohu has been largely dependent for employment on the farming hinterland and ferry access across the harbour.
Panguru
Panguru is the home to a small, mainly Maori population whose most famous daughter of the modern era was Dame Whina Cooper. Farming and exotic forestry are the most predominant economic activities today.
Motukaraka
The Hokianga Co-operative Dairy Co. opened a factory in Motukaraka in 1908 providing the Hokianga with its two main sources of employment – with the mill in Kohukohu (above). Farming and exotic forestry remain the most predominant economic activities in the area today.
Whangape
Whangape is a quiet little settlement with rolling hills and a coastal boundary. Unknown to many this community has a hidden treasure “The Golden Stairs Walkway”, which takes its name from the spectacular display of Kowhai flowering in spring.
The walkway commences just past Pawarenga along the eastern shores of the entrance to Whangape harbour with an additional entrance from Mitimiti along the beach. Care needs to be taken along the ridge track, Beautiful views inland and over the coastal slopes of the Warawara forest. The forest contains native flora and fauna and the natural beauty of the untouched land.
Kaikohe
Situated on the slopes of a volcanic hill is Kaikohe - the servicing centre for the mid-north. Kaikohe is the largest inland town in Northland, and boasts the largest grass airfield in the southern hemisphere. Deeply steeped in Maori history, Kaikohe as a European settlement owes its origins to the Kauri gum trade. Today, the main economic activities are farming (mostly beef and dairy) horticulture, and forestry.
The Kaikohe district was the scene of a number of conflicts during the New Zealand land wars. The great war chief Hone Heke settled in Kaikohe at the end of the land wars and died here in 1850. His nephew by the same name became New Zealand’s first Maori Member of Parliament. A tribute to Hone Heke is located at Monument Hill.
Kaikohe also has a Pioneer Village – a 19th century Northland community recreated with all its colourful atmosphere, history and detail. In recent years the attractions at the Pioneer Village have been augmented with the construction of a glasshouse featuring one of the best displays of begonia in New Zealand.
Kaikohe has a large number of educational facilities, with early childhood to secondary school and tertiary training opportunities available.
Kaikohe is home to the Far North District Council head office, the District Court, northern Police centre, Top Energy headquarters and servicing facilities for a number of government agencies.
Primary health care is provided by the Medical Centre on the eastern approach to the town. Services include chiropractory, optometry, midwifery, district public health and pharmacy. Kaikohe also offers Plunket, dental and counselling services.
Ngawha
The therapeutic waters of the health spa at Ngawha Springs is New Zealand’s most northerly geothermal site, and one of the first to have attracted the attention of the first Maori and subsequently European settlers.
Ngawha is home to the annual Kaikohe A & P Association show, boasts its own community hall, and has an 18-hole golf course with squash facilities.
It is also the site of the Northern Regional Corrections Facility; a major employer in the mid-north area.
Okaihau
Okaihau is a small service settlement for the rural community in the district located high above the Hokianga area.
As with its neighbouring towns such as Kaikohe the area is rich in pioneer and cultural history.
Ohaeawai
Ohaeawai stands at the junction of State Highways 1 and 12 and is mainly a servicing centre for the farming community.
Close to Ohaeawai township was the scene of one of the most notable Maori-European conflicts in New Zealand history. The first Battle of Ohaeawai in 1845 was near Lake Omapere and the second and more famous of the encounters was at the Ohaeawai Pa, west of the Ohaeawai township where St Michael’s Church currently stands. On both occasions, the British suffered massive losses.
Ngapuhi-Kaikou
This area comprises the productive inland valleys south of Kaikohe including the settlements of Tautoro, Mataraua, Punakitere Valley and Matawaia among others.
A predominantly farming and forestry district, settlement is generally scattered, reflecting the area’s economic base in agriculture.
Area Maps
The maps provided below are only indicative, for detailed area maps you can refer to one of our national online map service providers:
Page created/updated: 17 December 2008 at 11:09 am
