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THE BEAUTY OF
TE HIKU
Choose Te Hiku Hauora
Our Community
Te Hiku o Te Ika a Māui (the tail of the fish of Māui), otherwise known as Te Hiku or the Far North, has played a founding and significant role in the shaping of Aotearoa New Zealand and is culturally important to the whakapapa (history) of this country.
It is also where the great Polynesian navigator, Kupe, is said to have landed the first waka (canoes) from Hawaiki more than a 1000 years ago.
To this day, it remains one of the country’s regions with the largest Māori population and consists of the five iwi of Muriwhenua (Ngaitakoto, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu and Ngāti Kuri).
The Māori community in the Far North has a strong cultural identity across Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), Tikanga (protocols) and Te Reo (Māori language), which is influencing the wider community as younger generations- both Māori and non-Māori- embrace Te Ao Māori (the Māori world).
Te Hiku’s northernmost town Kāitāia also has a strong Dalmatian (Croatian) population, thanks to the mass migration from Croatia in the 1800s with people seeking work in the kauri gumfields.
More people in the Far North currently live rurally than in urban settings, the main centre for Te Hiku is Kāitāia, the urban population is spread across the four largest towns (Kerikeri, Kāitāia, Kaikohe and Kawakawa).
Today more than 70,000 people live in the Far North District. 10,000 more people are expected to live here in 20 years time, almost half of this population will be Māori.
Our Nature
Te Hiku is a large geographic area with over 2000 km of stunning, unspoilt white sandy coastline (including islands), on both the east and west sides of the region.
The Far North also features numerous rivers, eight major harbours and a multitude of cultural and ecological sites of significance.
The northern most tip of Te Hiku is where you will find the famous Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe (90 Mile Beach) and the spiritually significant Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea and where Māori believe their spirits go to Hawaiki when they pass away. Inland, the Far North is made up of rugged bush-covered areas, farmland, and horticulture, with a high proportion of unique freshwater and marine environments.
The tropical currents that lap Te Hiku also mean that the sea is home to a colourful array of species, with the marine life one of the best temperate diving spots in the world.
It also makes the region the perfect place to swim, surf, snorkel and fish, plus there are plenty of opportunities for walking and cycling with Department of Conservation walking trails, as well as camping grounds managed by local Iwi (tribes) and their kaitiaki (guardians).
Our Lifestyle
"The Winterless North” lives up to its reputation, with its sub-tropical climate providing long, warm summers and pleasant, balmy winters.
The average annual highest temperature in the Far North District is 25.4°C (77.7°F), with the average annual lowest temperature sitting at 7.9°C (46.2°F).
This temperate climate goes hand in hand with the laidback lifestyle and relaxed, slower pace of life, which is perfect for young families, retirees or anyone wanting to escape the rat-race of urban, city life.
There are also a range of eclectic businesses, markets and food offerings around the district, with a strong presence of kaimoana (seafood) and healthy food choices thanks to the rich sea life and abundance of local farms and orchards that operate out of Te Hiku.
The creative arts community is alive and thriving. There are also a number of cultural spaces and activities people can participate in if they wish to learn more about Māori culture, including Manea: Footprints of Kupe, Ngāwha Springs, Waitangi Treaty Grounds and more.
One of the more recent developments in Te Hiku is the multi-million dollar, internationally recognised Te Hiku o te Ika Revitalisation Open Spaces Project, which has delivered a total of 81 projects including pump tracks, public artworks, playground equipment, water fountains, barbeques, public seating, shade sails and much more around Kaitāia, Awanui and Ahipara.
