Hokianga
Table of Contents: Regions / Towns / Other Destinations / Culture and History / Talk / Travel to Hokianga, visa requirements / Get around / Hokianga attractions and sightseeing / Itineraries / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Hokianga nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Stay safe / Get out More from Northland: Hokianga |
The Hokianga [1] [2]is a region surrounding the Hokianga Harbour in the Far North of Northland, on the North Island of New Zealand. It is sparsely populated and has many little clusters of houses in a very rural setting. The density of population is lower than one per square kilometre. A good place to relax and chill out.
Regions
Unfortunately the Hokianga has no regions.
Towns
- Horeke — the second oldest European settlement in New Zealand
- Koutu — an agglomeration of houses on the Koutu peninsula
- Mangamuka Bridge — a town on State Highway 1 (SH1) in the North of Hokianga
- Rawene — a picturesque village on a peninsula jutting into the Harbour
Other Destinations
Culture and History
Its full Maori placename is Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe - the returning-place of Kupe, the legendary polynesian discoverer of Aotearoa (New Zealand) about 800 - 1,000 years ago. The entrance to the beautiful harbour is guarded by two headlands that legend tells are the taniwha who accompanied Kupe to this country. The North Head is called Niniwa and the South Head is Arai-te-Uru. The eleven rivers that feed the Hokianga are the paths their children made.
The population is about 6,000- 7,000 of whom 60% are of Maori descent, Te Rarawa iwi in the north, Ngapuhi iwi in the south. Many people are descendents of some of the early Europeans as well as being able to trace their Maori ancestry back to Rahiri.
In recent times, the remoteness of the Hokianga, combined with a lack of investment in the region gave it a reputation as being one of the most poverty stricken parts of the country.
The climate is sub-tropical: bananas, figs and peaches grow wild. Horticulture is gradually making a come-back after years of neglect.
Some things to note: Hokianga Health Enterprise Trust runs the hospital and the health system which includes district nurses in nine clinics, a dental service and other services such health promotion. The Trust is elected by the community and the doctors work for salaries. On a per capita basis, it is the most efficient and effective health service in the country.
There are also many arts-related activities from country and western music to film and book festivals, kapa haka and jazz.
Talk
Travel to Hokianga, visa requirements
Get around
Hokianga attractions and sightseeing
- Mangungu Mission House (Historic Site) — site of the biggest signing of the Treaty of Waitangi
- Koutu Boulders — biggest concretions in the world
- Wairere Boulders (Nature Park) — an enormous basalt flow just south of Horeke
Itineraries
Good restaurants and cheap meals
Hokianga nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Stay safe
Get out
More from Northland: Hokianga |
China travel tips: Language / pensions culture in Barcelona / cheap youth hostels singapore / hotels and hostels in Trastevere in Rome / Major Morocco tourist attractions / South Africa political attractions / Vancouver visitors guide, culture & youth hostels / Las Vegas hotels, top casinos, tours and shows
