Gisborne, New Zealand, Gisborne City, Wairoa, Tokomaru Bay, Te Urewera

Tokomaru Bay is 92km north of Gisborne on State Highway 35. The district was originally known as Toka-a-namu but over the years this has been altered to Tokomaru Bay. The area is renowned for its scenery, beaches and fishing and is the craft centre for the East Coast.

The area was known to the original inhabitants as Te Whanaua-Ruataupare. Ruataupare was the wife of Tuwhakairiora. While their children were growing up they were continually spoken about as being 'the noble offspring of Tuwhakairiora', bearing his name only, while Ruataupare's name was utterly disregarded and was never mentioned. Ruataupare was offended and returned to her own area in Tokomaru Bay where she summoned all the tribes that were dwelling on her land to come and fight. They responded accordingly and war began. Ruataupare and her people were victorious and her name was loudly proclaimed, respected and feared throughout the district. So Ruataupare established herself as chieftainess of the Tokomaru Bay people and from her time to this day, the tribal group has been known as Te Whanau-a-Ruataupare.

During the 1800-1830s the people were self-sufficient within a relatively confined area. They followed the traditional pattern of life at that time namely a desire to live near the place of work. So their lifestyle was in part linked to their food production and they lived very well from the food obtained in the area. Flat land near the shore and along the inland streams was cultivated. Their diet consisted of kaimoana in the form of kahawai, paua and crayfish, and land foods such as kumara, taro, fern leaves, birds, wild rats and several species of berries.

Started in 1890 at the mouth of the Waikoko Stream, the local timber mill operated until the early 1950s. Before roads were reliable timber was sawn, cut into lengths and taken to the beach where it was loaded onto boats for transporting to other areas. From 1906 until 1947 the Bay also supported a factory which produced cordial and aerated drinks. It was owned by D.J. Barry Ltd.

The building of the Tokomaru Bay Freezing Works had a great influence on the district. In 1909 a group of local farmers raised 39,000 pounds to build a works which opened in 1911. The buildings were made of bricks, many made at the brickworks at the top of Busby's Hill. In the early 1950s the freezing works closed. A small loco originally used between the works and the wharf is now in the children's play park.

Tokomaru Bay, with its temperate climate of hot summers and mild winters, is a pleasant place. With rocky headlands at each end of the bay and a golden beach it sprawls along eight kilometres of coastline. Tokomaru Bay is an ideal place for swimming, surfing and fishing. Many potters, artists, musicians and stained glass workers have been drawn to live here. It is an area rich in culture and history which has been cherished by our kuia and koroua.

Gisborne is the most easterly city in the world and is the first to welcome the sunrise each day. Located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean and blessed with a sub-tropical climate, it is the perfect place to explore. Gisborne has a reputation for great food, wine and surf beaches. As the unofficial ‘Chardonnay Capital of New Zealand’, Gisborne has a comprehensive wine trail leading to boutique wineries.

The Maori name for the district is Tairawhiti which means "The coast upon which the sun shines across the water".

Gisborne is home to the most historically important site in New Zealand – the first European landing place in New Zealand and the first meeting place between Maori and European.  For it was here that Captain James Cook first came ashore from the Endeavour in October 1769.  A European settlement was established in 1831 and the town which developed was named after Hon. William Gisborne, the Colonial Secretary, in 1870.

While in Gisborne you will be spoilt for choice, whether you are wanting to relax on the waterfront, in the inner harbour, with a glass of Gisborne wine or enjoy a more active holiday with one of the many soft adventure activities that beckon.  A twilight horse trek is always poplar for its spectacular coastal views and the feeling of freedom when you gallop along the beach.Fishing is also a popular sport in the region with both trout and deep sea fishing in abundance.

For those wanting to keep their hand in at golf, Eastland has the most golf courses per capita than any other part of New Zealand.  The Poverty Bay Golf Club in Gisborne is one of the top 10 in the country, set in park like grounds and near the city beaches, a superb view of Young Nicks Head can be seen from the 14th hole.  However for a more challenging experience there are many amazing country courses with beachside greens, including one commanding superb views of Mount Hikurangi and the Pacific Ocean. 

New Zealand's fourth largest national park is the ancestral home of the enigmatic Tuhoe people. Legend traces the parentage of the Tuhoe to Hine Pukohurangi (the mist maiden) and Te Maunga (the mountain), which is why the Tuhoe are known as 'children of the mist'.

Beautiful Lake Waikaremoana, the focus for many activities in the park, was formed about 2200 years ago by a colossal landslide that blocked the Waikaretaheke River. The lake is more than 250 metres deep in parts, and many visitors remark that it resembles a fiord. The track around the lake is one of New Zealand's 'Great Walks'.

The Te Urewera National Park protects the largest area of native forest remaining in the North Island. The high, misty ridges are covered with silver and mountain beech. At lower levels, the forest is dominated by red beech, rimu, rata, tawa and kamahi. Nearly all of New Zealand's native birds live in the forest, including rare species such as the North Island brown kiwi, blue duck (whio), yellow-crowned parakeet (kakariki), bush parrot (kaka), New Zealand falcon (karearea) and the blue-wattled kokako.

For hikers, kayakers and fly-fishing enthusiasts, the park's main attraction is Lake Waikaremoana. From the visitor centre at Aniwaniwa, short and long walks provide access to the lake's spectacular scenery and legendary fishing spots. In a small basin above the big lake is island-dotted Lake Waikareiti, a haven for native aquatic life.

Wairoa, 118km northeast of Napier and 99km south of Gisborne is a pretty town situated on the banks of the broad Wairoa River, and is the southern gateway to Eastland. The Maori name means "Long water".

It is the gateway to the wilderness playgrounds of Te Urewera National Park and Lake Waikaremoana. Te Urewera National Park encloses Lake Waikaremoana and the largest untouched native forest in the North Island.  Lake Waikaremoana has a number of hidden bays just waiting to be discovered.  Activities that can be enjoyed include lake kayaking, trout fishing, boating, day walks and a multi-day walking trip around magnificent Lake Waikaremoana, one of New Zealand's 10 Great Walks.

North from Wairoa is Mahia Peninsula, a beach-fringed promontory jutting into the Pacific providing a mecca for fishermen, surfers, divers and those looking for the quintessential beach holiday. Inland from Mahia on the highway between Gisborne and Wairoa are the Morere Hot Springs set in a nikau-predominant native bush reserve with superb walking tracks.

Wairoa (district population of 10,000, town around 5200) provides an excellent, sheltered venue for waterskiing, yachting and rowing and features a relocated lighthouse set on the banks of the river. Warm summers and mild winters are a feature of the climate in this district. Winter snowfalls in the higher Urewera country are not uncommon. Summer temperatures rank with the best in New Zealand.

A large freezing works is based in Wairoa to cater for the high sheep and cattle numbers raised in the district. Deer and goats are also farmed. Extensive pinus radiata plantings are in the surrounding hill country. Maize and sweetcorn are widely grown on the district's fertile flats with some areas of sub-tropical fruits and vineyards.