Cultural attractions

Whangārei Terenga Parāoa was a well-established and thriving Māori settlement by the time Captain Cook arrived in 1769. Many prominent hill and land features around the harbour and river valleys show some sign of having been part of a pā (fortified village), garden or food storage pit.

Whangārei Harbour was also a key waypoint for the tribes of wider northland for affairs south of Whangārei. The full name for Whangārei that commemorates events from the 1800s, Whangārei Terenga Parāoa, reflects this history.

In the Māori language parāoa refers to the sperm whale, the largest toothed whale, and terenga describes a path taken by marine life. Terenga parāoa literally means "the gathering place of the whales" but is a colloquial expression that likened large gatherings of northern chiefs and their war parties to a pod of whales. This is because these war councils would meet on the islands in the upper harbour.

Early missionaries recorded up to 3,000 Māori regularly camping on the shores of this rich harbour, highlighting its significance as a meeting place for the northern tribes.

Parihaka

Parihaka was sculpted by early Māori inhabitants into a pā or great fortress, reputedly the largest in all Aotearoa. Battles were fought and after the people of the pā were overwhelmed by attacking forces in the battle of Ōparakau in 1827, a large section of the mountain was declared tapu (sacred). A special carved kōhatu (commerative stone) at the lookout summit represents the mauri (life essence) of the mountain.

Walking tracks lead you through native flora and fauna where native medicinal plants are still collected and from the summit you can see other important landmarks and maunga (mountains).

Hihiaua Cultural Centre

The Hihiaua Cultural Centre is dedicated to preserving and promoting Whangārei’s rich Māori culture. It serves as a contemporary precinct where people can engage with the community through living, learning, earning, and playing, all while fostering cultural knowledge and skills. With a focus on education and exhibition of local arts and crafts, the centre is a testament to the strong local history and mana of local hapū.

Heritage Trail

As part of the Hātea Loop - Huarahi o te Whai, you can read the heritage panels telling the stories of both Māori and European settlement. Enjoy sculptures with significant cultural meaning, created by local artists. 

Kiwi North - Museum & Heritage Park

The Fraser Collection of Māori taonga at Kiwi North include important treasures to the Ngāti Awa and Ngāpuhi, the first peoples of Te Tai Tokerau/Northland. The Museum has a 200-year-old waka, a fine collection of korowai (cloaks) and beautiful bone, stone and wooden artefacts representative of early Māori technology. Also enjoy photographic collections chronicling early Māori life in Northland. 

Whangārei Falls - Otuihau

Otuihau is a picturesque 26-metre-high waterfall and picnic spot. 

The waterfall and river have a spiritual, healing and cultural connection for tangata whenua. The waterways that flow in and out of Otuihau provided a variety of food sources especially tuna (eels) and koura (freshwater crayfish).

The base of these majestic falls is the beginning of the Hātea River, that flows to the Whangārei Harbour. Otuihau is a wonderful place to reflect and connect with nature.

Ten Carved Pou

Ten carved pou (carved poles) representing many of the cultures that enrich Whangārei can be seen at the entrance to the Whangārei Library. Five of the poles were carved by, and represent, Māori. In what is believed to be a world first, the rest have been carved or decorated by other cultural groups and one, the Generic Pou, represents all cultures.

Te Matau ā Pohe

The name, Te Matau ā Pohe, of this rolling bascule bridge means ‘The Fish Hook of Pohe’ and reflects the early history of the people of this area. The design is inspired by the shape of Māori fishhooks and the prows of waka (canoe).

Pohe was the Māori chief who welcomed the first English settlers to Whangārei. He was skilled in manufacturing traditional fishhooks that settlers used in preference to the standard English hooks made of steel. Pohe also built bridges between the two cultures during the first years of English settlement amongst Māori and used his ranking to protect many of the first settler to the area of Whangārei.

See and walk across the bridge as part of the Hātea Loop - Huarahi o te Whai.

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