Maori & Colonial Histories

Maori Histories

In pre-European times the ancient Maori communities dotted the foreshore of the huge, abundant and very beautiful Whangarei Harbour. The name given by Maori to this place is Terenga Paraoa, the meeting place of the whales. Around July the whales would stop to rest, waiting for water temperatures to rise and bring the food stocks in from the southern ocean.

Also in the upper harbour there is an area where you’ll find Matakohe Island, Motuotaua Island and Onemama Point. On these areas of land would meet the army’s of Nga Puhi would gather and strategize their battle plans against the rival tribes to the south. This is another place known to Maori as Terenga Paraoa, the meeting place of whales or the meeting place of great chiefs.

The name Whangarei comes from the story of Reitu and Reipae, two sisters who ventured here from the southern tribe of Tainui in Waikato region of Aotearoa New Zealand. Landing on the shores of Onerahirahi (Onerahi), which is situated across the channel to the east of Matekohe Island. Te Whanga (The Harbour) of Rei (Rei-tu and Rei-pai), Whanga-rei.

Ancient Maori built their whare (home) and waka (canoe) from timber and flax found in the surrounding native bush, Te Waonui O Tane, the great forest of Tane. It is at the head of this long expanse of harbour that the Hatea River enters as the main tributary to the Whangarei Terenga Paraoa Harbour, and as far as waka could be paddled or trading vessels sailed, where the town of Whangarei took root.

This area is known today as the Town Basin Quayside & Marina. The ancient name for this place is called Te Ahipupurangi. This place was named by an the ancestors of the southern tribe of Te Arawa from the Rotorua area of New Zealand, his name was Ihenga. This area was noted as the place where Ihenga cooked the Kauri Snail, Ahi (to cook) – Pupurangi (the Kauri Snail) Ahi-pupurangi.

Situated above the Town Basin Quayside & Marina on the eastern hills is the Maunga or Mountain called Parihaka, at it’s time one of the biggest Pa site (Fortifies Village) in Aotearoa New Zealand. The name Parihaka derives from warriors performing the haka (War Dance) on the side of the cliff (Pari) Pari-haka, which overlooks Te Ahipupurangi the Town Basin Quayside & Marina area.

Colonial Histories

The early Europeans settlers arrived in Town Basin in the 1840s, though Samuel Marsden past through this way in 1815 from the Kaipara in the west on his travels around Taitokerau Northland.

The early settlers brought the new technologies and resources, economics and commerce, Westminster systems in city planning, education and social development. The fabric of this new beginning was woven by people who had strength, vision and courage. These city forbearers left legacies for the community to participate and enjoy, places like the Gilbert Mair Park and A.H Reed Park.

These days the Town Basin Quayside & Marina hosts an international marina famous among the cruising yachties of the globe as a refuge from the Pacific hurricaneseason and for the town’s reputation for boat building and services. One of the unique places in the world where the harbour come right up to the city centre, where the boaties can walk straight off their boat to the nearest Supermarket for food and supplies.

Built around remnants of an early wharf, is a quayside cluster of interesting colonial style buildings that are restaurants, cafes, specialty shops for arts and crafts, sculptures, native trees & plants, the Sun Dial outside the Claphams Clock Museum. Then there is the Reyburn House for its history and art, also the Waka’n’Wave sculptures and native gardens that welcome all the boaties to the city of Whangarei.