Te Araroa

TE ARAROA ACTIVITIES AND TRAVEL | Te Araroa Information

Te Araroa is a town in the Gisborne region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated 175 km north of Gisborne city.

Te Araroa sits at the edge of the stunning Kawakawa Bay. A distorted pohutukawa tree, known to be the oldest and largest of its kind in New Zealand, stands in the school grounds of Te Araroa.

There are many attractions located in and around Te Araroa. From Te Araroa you can drive to the East Cape lighthouse and climb the steps to a fantastic view of Eastland's coast. You can take a bush walk around Haupara Point which leads to outstanding rock fishing. Fishing trips and Maori history tours can be arranged in the town. With its mild climate and its diverse and extensive coastline Te Araroa is a pleasant place to visit.

Te Araroa is also the birthplace of Sir Apirana Ngata, a New Zealand legend who made it his life's goal to uplift the Maori race spiritually, culturally and economically.

Te Araroa History

The Maori of Te Araroa belong to the Ngati Porou tribe and are descended from Porourangi, but their genealogies tell of other ancestors shared with other tribes of Aotearoa. The most notable of these is Toi and it is quite possible that descendants of Toi came onto the East Coast via this northern district. Another more idealistic ancestor was Paikea who is said to have arrived in this land on the back of a whale.

When Captain Cook rediscovered New Zealand in 1769 he sailed past Kawakawa Bay. He named East Cape, East Island and Hicks Bay but did not land in this area. It is not known whether the first Pakeha to arrive in the district was a whaler, a trader or a marooned sailor.

Main Towns in the Eastland Region

Other Towns in the Eastland Region