KIA ORA! Greetings! HAERE MAI KI WHANGĀREI TERENGA PARĀOA Welcome to Whangārei – Gathering place of the whales TANGATA WHENUA People of the land

We, the tangata whenua or indigenous people of this land Haere mai ngā manuhiri are strongly connected to our environment. Before pakeha Haere mai e, tūārangi e or European arrived, Māori dominated Aotearoa, land of the long white cloud. Mauria mai o koutou aroha i Today, Māori make up nearly one third of the population of Whangārei so you can expect to meet us whereever Te kaupapa nei you go. From our creative Māori artists to our innovative Tēnā koutou and entrepreneurial business people, we are what make Whangārei special and unique. Tēnā koutou Through this brochure we share many of the things and places we love and hold in high regard. Most of these have Tēnā koutou katoa been provided to us by Papatūānuku, our earth mother. We are the kaitiaki or protectors of all living forces like the land, forests and waterways. We pride ourselves on manaakitanga or welcoming and caring for our visitors, so hope that you may be better informed and enriched by ’s rich history and beautiful Māori culture.

2 3 WHANGĀREI KO TE TAUWHANGA A REIPAE The waiting place of Reipae

Our ancestors spoke of a handsome chieftain, Ueoneone, from the far north who travelled to a prominent Māori village in Waikato where he fell in love with two beautiful princesses named Reitu and Reipae. They too were mesmerised by this handsome chieftain from the north. Both tribes knew that a marriage would strengthen their tribal connections. Ueoneone returned home to the north in preparation for the union. He then sent his magical bird down to fly the beautiful princesses back to him. Their family followed on land in support of the impending marriage. On their journey, Reipae overheard Reitu making scathing remarks about her to the magical bird. This caused Reipae to give up her quest of marriage to the handsome Ueoneone and asked the bird to land on the shore below, where she disembarked and told Reitu to carry on without her. Reitu completed the journey and married Ueoneone. While waiting for her family, Reipae wandered the shores of what is now the Whangārei Harbour and was bedazzled by another handsome chieftain of the area, Tahuhu Potiki. They married, and so this place became known as Ko te tauwhanga a Reipae, the waiting place of Reipae which has been shortened to Whangārei.

4 5 WHANGĀREI TERENGA PARĀOA Gathering place of the whales

Many years after the arrival of the magical bird and our beautiful princesses, Reitu and Reipae, the name of Whangārei was enhanced to recognise the most revered and majestic mammals of the sea, the Parāoa or sperm whale who frequently gathered in and around the harbour. Our ancestors believed these whales were important gifts from the gods. They represented wealth, abundance and prosperity. The Parāoa also symbolises persons of chiefly status. Hence the name Whangārei – Terenga Parāoa - Gathering place of the whales and meeting place of the chiefs.

6 7 MANAIA Tu te ao • Tu te po

One hundred beaches surround Whangārei and the most prominent feature, which has a commanding presence upon entering the Whangārei Harbour, is our sacred mountain Manaia. This mountain’s name is derived from one of the earliest chiefs that settled here. Manaia is the ancestral mountain to all the tribes in Whangārei, many of whom can trace their genealogy back to this great chief, Manaia. To this day, when people hear or see Mt Manaia, they are reminded of home. A great walking track to the summit provides the most spectacular views over the most dramatic harbour entrance in New Zealand.

8 9 MATAKOHE Limestone Island

Sitting in the middle of the channel to the upper Whangārei Harbour is Matakohe Island or Limestone Island. It was a strategically important site for the local tribes and included a fortified village. From this vantage point they could observe everything entering and exiting the harbour. The village catered for up to 2000 warriors who would gather here while the chiefs strategised and planned their conquests over other tribes. The warmth-loving kumara, or sweet potato, which plays a very important part in our Māori diet, was extensively grown on this island due to the ideal conditions. Today, the island is a sanctuary for many endangered species and is a key location for important conservation efforts which have seen the regeneration of our iconic kiwi and various other birds, reptiles and insects.

10 11 HĪHĪAUA

Located beneath the hilltop pa of Ōkara that overlooks both the Waiarohia and Hātea Rivers, Hīhīaua was once a busy canoe landing and fishing spot. Today, Hīhīaua greets you with the mighty Waka and Wave sculpture. It welcomes travellers from distant places and reminds us of the importance of our culture riding waves of colonisation and changes. Whangārei is home to many traditional and contemporary Māori artists and some of their works can be seen on Huarahi o te whai, the Hātea Loop walkway, that runs along the Hīhīaua Peninsula.

Photo: Northern Advocate

12 13 PARIHAKA The cliff of war dance

The dominant feature of the inner harbour is our sacred mountain, Parihaka, meaning cliff of war dance. The commanding views of the whole inner harbour provided our people with safety and security from invading tribes. Today, the breathtaking views from the summit of Mt Parihaka confirm why this mountain was the largest Māori pā site or fortified village in Aotearoa. The popular walking tracks lead you through native flora and fauna where our ancestors, as we still do today, collect a lot of our native medicinal plants.

14 15 OTUIHAU Whangārei Falls

The most majestic of the six waterfalls in Whangārei is Otuihau or Whangārei Falls. The waterways that flow in and out of this waterfall, sustained our people with such delicacies as eels and fresh water lobsters. We have a spiritual connection to all our waterways and believe water is a living force which sustains us. The calabash of these falls was used for the physical and spiritual healing of our people. Today, Otuihau is the most visited sight in Whangārei. It includes wonderful walkways through our beautiful native bush that take you past our giants of the forest, the mighty Kauri tree, then lead you down to the Whangārei Harbour.

16 17 TERENGA PARĀOA MARAE

Our marae, or the place where we gather for special occasions in Whangārei, is Terenga Parāoa. This beautiful marae was gifted to the people of Whangārei by the family of one of Māoridom’s respected and visionary leaders of the early 1900s, Kaka Porowini. The meeting house is named after him. This fully carved house tells the rich history of all the tribes throughout Te Tai Tokerau, Northland. Today it is open to people of all nations, religions and creeds as a symbol of hospitality and unity.

18 19 STAY TU TIKA PUPURANGI NATIVE TOURS HIRE & TOUR

Can I tell you a secret? Stay Native is not You will immediately feel welcomed and Tēnā Koutou katoa – Greetings to you all. your ordinary travel experience. You see, at ease with your personal guides as you Pupurangi Hire & Tour offer a range of we know that the most beautiful beaches experience the warmth of authentic Māori activities, information and experiences. We are connected to dusty roads that are cultural hospitality. Step off the tourist trail have a large range of water and land based not on the map. We know that the most and begin your journey and connection hire activities that you can do on your own succulent kai is hidden under the earth, with Mervyn, Rangimarie and family or with a personal guide. cooked in fire and rocks. We know that the most lush landscapes are concealed behind – your knowledgeable and passionate Aquacykls goat tracks, and solidified under years of descendants of the land. Be immersed in Waka Ama barefoot adventures. We know that the very our culture and protocols that we still hold Kayaks – single and double best people to show you, are the locals who strong to today. Rollerblades know them best. An unforgettable five hour experience that Scooters Stay Native is an online platform will create memories and connections Bikes that connects you to authentic Māori that will last a lifetime. Shorter and Or perhaps you would like a guided tour experiences. Whether you would like to customised tours can be made to suit experience traditional Māori cuisine, or a through native bushwalks or sites of your requirements. If you are seeking an significance. Experience the culture and high-end dining experience with your own authentic cultural performance and show, personal chef. Whether you would like to history of the area with tangata whenua we can assist with that too. trek through the forest to find a hidden (people of the land), your hosts Tony, waterhole, or spend the night sleeping over Contact us to discuss how we can help Joanne and Toitehuatahi. the water on a private beach retreat - Stay make your Kiwi Cultural Connection the We specialise in providing a service that Native has an experience for you. All hosted most memorable experience. You may is safe and enjoyable for families and by local Māori, these experiences will arrive as a stranger, but you will leave friends, community groups and visitors take you off the beaten track and connect Aotearoa (New Zealand) as members of our to Whangārei. Come experience the local you meaningfully with our culture, our whānau (family). histories and knowledge of Ahipūpūrangi. landscapes, and our people. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai! Nau mai, haere mai. We invite you to join www.tutikatours.co.nz Come and visit! us. Simply head to our website to book your experience today. 09 4375651 or 021 507826 [email protected] www.hirentour.co.nz www.staynative.co.nz Pick-up/drop-off within Whangārei City area Jetty 1, Town Basin, Whangārei Marina staynativenz staynative_nz P 0800JETTY1 tutikatours tutikatours [email protected]

ACTIVITIES, EXPERIENCES TU TIKA TOURS AND TOURS Connecting you with our land, water and forest Whakawhanaungatanga – Building relationships through shared experiences 20 21 7 1 13 OTUIHAU  WHANGĀREI FALLS WHANGĀREI BROCHURE WHANGĀREI CITY LOCATIONS DISTRICT 1O 14 1 Otuihau - Whangārei Falls 2 Parihaka 3 Terenga Parāoa Marae 4 Hīhīaua 8 WHANANAKI 5 Matakohe Limestone Island 6 Manaia

2 15 PARIHAKA CULTURAL QUARRY ARTS CENTRE 11 18 TOWN BASIN, AHIPŪPŪRANGI ACTIVITIES 4 3 HĪHĪAUA 9 TERENGA PARĀOA MARAE 16 STAY NATIVE 7 Fishing & rewana at Whangaruru WHANGĀREI 17 TE MATAU Ā POHE 8 Marae & conservation at Whananāki CITY 9 Rongoa at Ngunguru KIWI NORTH 10 Te Reo class at Otangarei 11 Screen printing & poi at the Quarry Arts Centre 12 Weaving at Takahīwai

TU TIKA TOURS

13 Otuihau - Whangārei Falls 6 MANAIA 14 Otangarei 15 Parihaka TAKAHĪWAI 12 16 Terenga Parāoa Marae 17 Te Matau ā Pohe

PUPURANGI HIRE & TOUR 18 Town Basin, Ahipūpūrangi

5 MATAKOHE LIMESTONE ISLAND 22 23 MĀ TE WĀ See you again

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