Whakatane – Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Whakatane – Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Whakatane is a picturesque river/seaside town nestled in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
Surrounded by native bushland, plains, rivers and the Pacific Ocean, Whakatane is the place if you want to be immersed in natural beauty.
Whether you are the active type or more relaxed, Whakatane has it all. There are plenty of bushwalking tracks if you enjoy hiking, or if you just want to relax, spend time soaking the warm sun at the beautiful sandy pristine beaches spread 54 kilometres along the coastline that spreads from Otamarakau in the west, to Ohiwa in the east.
The Whakatane District has a friendly population of 32,814, the largest urban area Whakatane, has a population of 15,024. Nearby Ohope has a population of 2,760, with other smaller settlements in the rural areas making up the rest of the population.
Whakatane is an hour’s drive to two major cities, Tauranga on the west coast and the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua to the west inland. It is also only a 3.5 hour drive to Auckland and Hawkes Bay and 2.5 hours from Gisborne, Hamilton and Taupo. This puts Whakatane within relatively easy reach of about 50% of New Zealand’s population.
Natural resources in Whakatane are easy to come by. The region is rich in forestry resources and has some of the country’s best dairy farms, along with a large dairy processing plant located at Edgecumbe. The fertile soil of the district supports a variety of horticultural activities including market gardens, apple and kiwifruit orchards and flower growing. Bottling water from the unspoiled streams in Whakatane for export is an emerging industry. Kaimoana or seafood is in abundance. From trout and kina (sea urchins), to paua (abalone) and snapper, Whakatane is a truly self sufficient piece of paradise.
Whakatane is abundant in culture and history. There are Kapa Haka (cultural) performances all year round, even from children as young as 2 years old who attend Kohanga Reo (Maori Kindergarten). Most schools in Whakatane compete in regional and national Kapa Haka competitions and are ranked very well in these. The predominant iwi (tribes) in Whakatane are Ngati Awa and Tuhoe.
History of how Whakatane got its name:
Following the directions of his father, Irakewa, the Captain Toroa, his brothers Puhi and Taneatua, sister Muriwai, son Ruaihona, daughter Wairaka and other members of his family sailed to Kakahoroa, mooring in the river estuary near the town’s current commercial centre. The men then climbed the hillside to Kapu-te-rangi, leaving the Mataatua waka (canoe) in the care of the small group consisting mainly of women. The outgoing tide was threatening to carry away the waka when Wairaka exclaimed: “E! Kia whakatane au i ahau” (let me act the part of a man). In breach of tradition, the women paddled the canoe back to safety and from this incident, Whakatane received its name.
Phillipa Wirangi
