Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
- Hani and Puna - mark the burial place of the
Tainui waka
. You can't see a lot from the
road, but the
marae
is private property - don't enter without permission from the
Maketu
Marae Committee
(info@kawhia.maori.nz)
.
Kawhia Harbour Cruises
CRUISE
( 021 966 754;
www.kawhiaharbourcruises.co.nz
;
cruises per adult $35)
There are some gor-
geous beaches and kooky rock formations to check out around isolated Kawhia Harbour:
bring your swimming gear! Minimum six adults.
Dove Charters
FISHING
(
07-871 5854;
www.westcoastfishing.co.nz
;
full day $110)
Full-day fishing trips.
KAWHIA'S CANOE
The Tainuiwaka- a 14th-century ancestral canoe - made its final landing at
Kawhia. The expedition leaders - Hoturoa, the chief/captain, and Rakataura, the
tohunga(priest) - searched the west coast until they recognised their prophesised
landing place. Pulling into shore, they tied the wakato a pohutukawa tree, naming
it Tangi te Korowhiti. This unlabelled tree still stands on the shoreline between the
wharf and Maketu Marae. The wakawas then dragged up onto a hill and buried:
sacred stones were placed at either end to mark its resting place, now part of the
marae.
Festivals & Events
Kawhia Traditional Maori Kai Festival
FOOD
(
www.kawhiakaifestival.co.nz
;
adult/child $10/2)
During the annual Kai Festival in early
February, over 10,000 people descend to enjoy traditional Maori
kai
(food) and catch up
with
whanau
(relations). Once you've filled up on seafood,
rewana
bread and rotten
corn, settle in to watch the bands and rousing
kapa haka
(traditional Maori group singing
and dancing) performances.
Sleeping & Eating
Kawhia Beachside S-Cape
HOLIDAY PARK $
