Whangaroa
Encyclopedia
Whangaroa is a locality on the harbour of the same name
in Northland, New Zealand
.
Whangaroa is 8km north-west from Kaeo
and 45km north from Okaihau
. The harbour is almost landlocked and is popular both as a fishing spot in its own right and as a base for deep-sea fishing.
The harbour was the scene of one of the most notorious incidents in early New Zealand history, the Boyd massacre
. In October 1809 almost all the crew and 70 passengers were killed as utu (revenge) for the mistreatment of the son of a local chief who had been in the crew of the ship. Several days later the ship was burnt out after gunpowder was accidentally ignited. Relics of the Boyd are now in a local museum.
In June 1823 Wesleydale, the first Wesleyan
mission, in New Zealand was established at Whangaroa, though it was destroyed by fire in 1827. In February of that year the famous Ngā Puhi chief Hongi Hika
was engaged in warfare against the tribes of Whangaroa. Acting contrary to the orders of Hongi Hika
some of his warriors plundered and burnt the Wesleyan
mission.
During a skirmish Hongi Hika
was shot in the chest by one of his warriors. On 6th March 1828 Hongi Hika
died at Whangaroa.
Whangaroa Harbour
Whangaroa Harbour is an inlet on the northern coast of Northland, New Zealand. Whangaroa Bay and the Pacific Ocean are to the north. The small settlements of Totara North and Saies are on the west side of the harbour, Waitaruke on the south side, and Whangaroa on the east. State Highway 10 runs...
in Northland, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Whangaroa is 8km north-west from Kaeo
Kaeo
The township of Kaeo lies some 22 km northwest of Kerikeri in Northland, New Zealand. The town takes its name from the unique shellfish found in the nearby Whangaroa Harbour....
and 45km north from Okaihau
Okaihau
Okaihau is a small town in the Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island, just north of Kaikohe. State Highway 1 passes through the town. The 2006 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings recorded Okaihau's population as 717, an increase of 30 people since the 2001 census.- Transport...
. The harbour is almost landlocked and is popular both as a fishing spot in its own right and as a base for deep-sea fishing.
The harbour was the scene of one of the most notorious incidents in early New Zealand history, the Boyd massacre
Boyd massacre
The Boyd Massacre took place in 1809 when Māori residents of Whangaroa Harbour in northern New Zealand killed and ate between 66 and 70 people as revenge for the whipping of a young Māori chief by the crew of the sailing ship Boyd...
. In October 1809 almost all the crew and 70 passengers were killed as utu (revenge) for the mistreatment of the son of a local chief who had been in the crew of the ship. Several days later the ship was burnt out after gunpowder was accidentally ignited. Relics of the Boyd are now in a local museum.
In June 1823 Wesleydale, the first Wesleyan
Wesleyanism
Wesleyanism or Wesleyan theology refers, respectively, to either the eponymous movement of Protestant Christians who have historically sought to follow the methods or theology of the eighteenth-century evangelical reformers, John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley, or to the likewise eponymous...
mission, in New Zealand was established at Whangaroa, though it was destroyed by fire in 1827. In February of that year the famous Ngā Puhi chief Hongi Hika
Hongi Hika
Hongi Hika was a New Zealand Māori rangatira and war leader of the Ngāpuhi iwi . Hongi Hika used European weapons to overrun much of northern New Zealand in the first of the Musket Wars...
was engaged in warfare against the tribes of Whangaroa. Acting contrary to the orders of Hongi Hika
Hongi Hika
Hongi Hika was a New Zealand Māori rangatira and war leader of the Ngāpuhi iwi . Hongi Hika used European weapons to overrun much of northern New Zealand in the first of the Musket Wars...
some of his warriors plundered and burnt the Wesleyan
Wesleyanism
Wesleyanism or Wesleyan theology refers, respectively, to either the eponymous movement of Protestant Christians who have historically sought to follow the methods or theology of the eighteenth-century evangelical reformers, John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley, or to the likewise eponymous...
mission.
During a skirmish Hongi Hika
Hongi Hika
Hongi Hika was a New Zealand Māori rangatira and war leader of the Ngāpuhi iwi . Hongi Hika used European weapons to overrun much of northern New Zealand in the first of the Musket Wars...
was shot in the chest by one of his warriors. On 6th March 1828 Hongi Hika
Hongi Hika
Hongi Hika was a New Zealand Māori rangatira and war leader of the Ngāpuhi iwi . Hongi Hika used European weapons to overrun much of northern New Zealand in the first of the Musket Wars...
died at Whangaroa.