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Mahia Peninsula

 
Mahia Peninsula

 
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Mahia Peninsula
 
 
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The Mahia Peninsula is located on the east coast of New Zealand
New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
's North Island
North Island

The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. The island is 113,729 square km in area, making it the List of islands by area....
, between the cities of Napier
Napier, New Zealand

Napier is a seaport List of cities in New Zealand in Hawke's Bay , New Zealand. It has a population of Less than twenty kilometres separate the centres of Hastings City and Napier, and as such the two are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"....
 and Gisborne
Gisborne, New Zealand

Gisborne is the name of a unitary authority in New Zealand, being both a Regions of New Zealand and a district. Gisborne is also the name of the largest settlement within the Gisborne Region....
.

peninsula is 21.7 kilometres long and 11.3 kilometres wide rising to its highest point at Rahuimokairoa reaching about 403 metres above sea level.






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Mahia Peninsula Landsat
Nz Mahia P
The Mahia Peninsula is located on the east coast of New Zealand
New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
's North Island
North Island

The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. The island is 113,729 square km in area, making it the List of islands by area....
, between the cities of Napier
Napier, New Zealand

Napier is a seaport List of cities in New Zealand in Hawke's Bay , New Zealand. It has a population of Less than twenty kilometres separate the centres of Hastings City and Napier, and as such the two are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"....
 and Gisborne
Gisborne, New Zealand

Gisborne is the name of a unitary authority in New Zealand, being both a Regions of New Zealand and a district. Gisborne is also the name of the largest settlement within the Gisborne Region....
.

Geography

The peninsula is 21.7 kilometres long and 11.3 kilometres wide rising to its highest point at Rahuimokairoa reaching about 403 metres above sea level. Mahia was initially an island which over time, has had a sand bar join it to the North Island. Whales often strand on the shallow sand build up.

Early whalers had a whaling station on the farm 'Kini Kini", sheltered by 'Long Point' on the west coast of the peninsula. Portland Island ('Waikawa')
Portland Island, New Zealand

Portland Island is a small island off the southern tip of the Mahia Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand. It is used for sheep farming....
 was named by Kahungunu when he visited there to look for fresh drinking water and only found salt water. Waikawa means 'sour water'. Waikawa is a small island off the southern tip of Mahia Peninsula with an unmanned lighthouse. The name Mahia means 'indistinct sound'.

Culture

The area is a popular seaside resort. The most important activity of the area is tourism. Sheep and cattle farms are still an important part for the local community. Mahia is famous for its surf, scuba diving, hiking, fishing, rugby and great hospitality. Many tourists stay in Napier
Napier, New Zealand

Napier is a seaport List of cities in New Zealand in Hawke's Bay , New Zealand. It has a population of Less than twenty kilometres separate the centres of Hastings City and Napier, and as such the two are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"....
, Hastings
Hastings, New Zealand

Hastings is the administrative centre of the Hastings District in the Hawke's Bay of the North Island of New Zealand. Hastings is located inland from the City of Napier....
 or Wairoa
Wairoa

This article is about the New Zealand town. For the river, please refer to the Wairoa River articleWairoa is a town in New Zealand's North Island....
 and travel to Mahia Peninsula for the day.

In Maori legend, Whatonga who came to New Zealand in search of his grandfather Toi, settled at Mahia. The community these days is still generally a mix of Maori and European. The local Maori tribe
Maori

The Maori are the indigenous people Polynesian people of Aotearoa . The group probably arrived in south-western Polynesia in several waves at some time before 1300....
 are known as Ngati Rongomaiwahine.

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