Kohukohu, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Kohukohu is an historic village on the Hokianga Harbour in the far north of the North Island
. It was one of the first European settlements in New Zealand.
Kohukohu is situated on the northern shore of the harbour where it splits into two rivers, the Mangamuka River
branching inland to the northeast and the Waihou River leading towards the east past Mangungu, Horeke
and Rangiahua
.
Where the harbour divides there is a small island called Motiti which was painted by Augustus Earle
, the first European artist to spend several months in New Zealand, during his visit to the Hokianga in 1827. He wrote "we were sailing up a spacious sheet of water, which became considerably wider after entering it; while majestic hills rose on each side .... looking up the river we beheld various headlands stretching into the water and gradually contracting its width, 'till they became fainter and fainter in the distance and all was lost in the azure of the horizon".
According to Te Tai Tokerau tradition, the legendary Polynesian explorer, Kupe
visited the area in 925 AD prior to his return voyage to Hawaiiki. Angry at the food from the hangi (earth oven) being insufficiently cooked, he cursed those responsible using the word kohu. Hence Kohukohu.
The first recorded European to enter the Hokianga Harbour arrived in 1819 and by the 1830s, Kohukohu was the heart of New Zealand's timber industry.
For nearly one hundred years Kohukohu was an important timber milling town and the largest commercial centre on the north of the harbour. In 1900, the township had a population of more than 1,000 people.
within the locality.
In recent years, Kohukohu has become an increasingly popular destination for travellers who are attracted by its beautiful scenery, history, culture and arts. There are a number of accommodation options available locally; including backpackers, cottages, and bed & breakfast facilities.
of 2 and a roll of 45.
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
. It was one of the first European settlements in New Zealand.
Kohukohu is situated on the northern shore of the harbour where it splits into two rivers, the Mangamuka River
Mangamuka River
The Mangamuka River is a river of the far north of the Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows generally south from the Maungataniwha Range southeast of Kaitaia, and the last few kilometres of its length are a wide, silty arm of the Hokianga Harbour, which it reaches 10 kilometres...
branching inland to the northeast and the Waihou River leading towards the east past Mangungu, Horeke
Horeke
Horeke is a settlement in the upper reaches of the Hokianga harbour in Northland, New Zealand. Kohukohu is just across the harbour. The Wairere Boulders is located in the Hokianga Harbour near the town .-History:...
and Rangiahua
Rangiahua
Rangiahua is a small locality near the Hokianga Harbour in the Northland Region of New Zealand. State Highway 1 passes through it. Umawera is to the west, and Okaihau to the east.Rangiahua nearly became New Zealand's most northern railway terminus...
.
Where the harbour divides there is a small island called Motiti which was painted by Augustus Earle
Augustus Earle
Augustus Earle was a London-born travel artist. Unlike earlier artists who worked outside Europe and were employed on voyages of exploration or worked abroad for wealthy, often aristocratic patrons, Earle was able to operate quite independently - able to combine his lust for travel with an...
, the first European artist to spend several months in New Zealand, during his visit to the Hokianga in 1827. He wrote "we were sailing up a spacious sheet of water, which became considerably wider after entering it; while majestic hills rose on each side .... looking up the river we beheld various headlands stretching into the water and gradually contracting its width, 'till they became fainter and fainter in the distance and all was lost in the azure of the horizon".
Early history
Kupe
In the Māori mythology of some tribes, Kupe was involved in the Polynesian discovery of New Zealand.-Contention:There is contention concerning the status of Kupe. The contention turns on the authenticity of later versions of the legends, the so-called 'orthodox' versions closely associated with S....
visited the area in 925 AD prior to his return voyage to Hawaiiki. Angry at the food from the hangi (earth oven) being insufficiently cooked, he cursed those responsible using the word kohu. Hence Kohukohu.
The first recorded European to enter the Hokianga Harbour arrived in 1819 and by the 1830s, Kohukohu was the heart of New Zealand's timber industry.
For nearly one hundred years Kohukohu was an important timber milling town and the largest commercial centre on the north of the harbour. In 1900, the township had a population of more than 1,000 people.
Kohukohu Today
Today, Kohukohu is a community of 150 people who live within the village and approximately 350 who live in the surrounding area. The smaller settlements of Tauteihiihi, Motukaraka, Pikiparia, Te Karae, Mata, and Paponga are very close by. Kohukohu has a school, general store, café, art galleries, arts and crafts shop, hotel, voluntary fire and ambulance services, and a health clinic. There are also two churches and three MaraeMarae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
within the locality.
In recent years, Kohukohu has become an increasingly popular destination for travellers who are attracted by its beautiful scenery, history, culture and arts. There are a number of accommodation options available locally; including backpackers, cottages, and bed & breakfast facilities.
Education
Kohukohu School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile ratingSocio-Economic Decile
Decile, Socio-Economic Decile or Socio-Economic Decile Band is a widely used measure in education in New Zealand used to target funding and support to more needy schools....
of 2 and a roll of 45.
External links
- Kohukohu community website
- Kohukohu School school website
- Village Arts website