Waimamaku country roads

Further on from my day out with B last week, this is where we were. Waimamaku is south of the Hokianga Harbour and is a very small settlement.  

Because this is about 90 minutes away from where we live B and his colleagues are suppose to drive there only up to 3 times a week to fix peoples phone lines and internet faults etc if there are any, luckily they get paid for their travel.

While he was puttering around last week I took the liberty of taking a few photos (below) while I was in and out of the work truck during bouts of boredom.

 

There were about 5 houses up this long country road scattered quite a distance from each other but one of them had a garden that was full of Dahlias.

Can never resist taking photos of old abandoned sheds - not often I see metal ones, usually they are made of wood and falling apart.

Whatever these wildflowers are, they look like they would be good for being dried. 

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My Corner of the World, Wordless Wednesday.

Over the hills and far away...

On Tuesday B invited me to go with him to work as the jobs he had were about 90 minutes away. His job means that he fixes peoples phone lines and internet problems so we drove out through Kaikohe, Taheke, Opononi and Omapere to end up in Waimamaku. This is a lookout spot we stopped at in Pakanae that allowed us to see over some of the Hokianga coastline.

 Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Walker's Passage

Set back along the waterfront of Russell is this commemorative patch of land which pays homage to a historical local.  Tamati Waka Nene was born sometime during the 1780s and died in 1871. He was the chief of the Ngati Hao people in the Hokianga region and important war leader. 

He fought in the musket wars of the 1820s, and after the death of Hongi Hika in 1828 he took on the responsibility of protecting the the Wesleyan missionaries in the Hokianga.

During the 1830s he joined the Wesleyan faith but he wasn't baptized until 1839 and took on the name of Thomas Walker after an English merchant who was the patron of the Anglican Church Missionary Society. This area that is marked with carvings shows where his house once stood.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday and My corner of the World.

The Hokianga Herald

This is one place I enjoy driving through when we have the opportunity to do so. Kohukohu is one of those small towns in the Hokianga where it almost feels like you've stepped back in time when when the first settlers arrived in the 1800s.

The small building/shed on the left was originally called the "Herald Building" due to the Hokianga Herald and Hokianga Star newspapers were published from. There are plans to restore it into a community center.

The 2 story building to the right apparently was first built to be a bank, then was a dental surgery then a home bakery but is now being used as a art gallery.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

Mangungu Mission Church

This historical church is one of the oldest in the Hokianga region and was founded around 1821 as part of the mission house and station. In 1840 this land was where an additional 64 signatures were added to the Treaty of Waitangi and after the deception was discovered at the original signing there was still alot of opposition to this.

After some discussion between one chief and some missionaries they decided it would be good for the Maori people in general. Gifts of tobacco and blankets were given out by Governor Hobson but many people were unhappy with this considering they were trading the rights to their land and asked for their signatures to be removed from the treaty. This was refused  and although there were people who were opposed to this, those who did sign ended up being the most faithful.

It's a pity that such a beautiful spot overlooking the harbour could be part of what is now considered to be a one sided travesty.

Motukaraka Church

Overlooking the Hokianga Harbour is this gem with a very high steeple. Motukaraka Church or as it's otherwise known the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption is Catholic based and was designed by Thomas Mahoney but opened in 1910 by Dean Lightfoot one of the Mill Hill Missionaries.

There is a war memorial next to the church dedicated to those who fought in the 2nd world war - names include Private Massey Rameka, Private David Hoani and Private Chris Harris.

The missionaries identified with their mostly Maori congregation and learned their native language. Father John Baptist Becker, also one of the missionaries is buried next to the church and was responsible for translating the bible for his parishioners.

The interior resembles that of a gothic design and has been incredibly well looked after. However upon looking at the mat leading down the centre of the aisle we could see there was some water damage so maybe there was a leak in the roof at some point but it was still immaculate nonetheless.

Rawene's Boatshed Cafe

Along the Esplanade in Rawene near the Ferry wharf is the Boatshed Cafe and apparently they make and sell very delicious food such as a Salmon Cream Cheese gourmet pizza. But they also sell arts, crafts and the best fish and chips in the Hokianga Harbour.

Us kiwis love our pizza and there are all sorts of weird and wonderful varieties here. My favourite one ever is from the Waipu Pizza Barn and it has avocado, shrimp and sour cream on it, another one is a Vegetarian pizza from Dominoes. What's your favourite pizza?

Rangitahi Marae

This was another one of those places I got the other half to stop the car outside so I could take a better look. There was something about the field full of flowers in front of it with the Rangitahi Marae behind them that caught my attention.

Rangitahi Marae is located in Maraeroa on the Western Side of Horeke Road in the upper part of the Hokianga Harbour. It's main hapu are Te Ngahengahe, Ngati Toro and Te Popoto of the Ngapuhi confederation.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Fresh air and ginger in Kohukohu

When I was a child I suffered terribly from car sickness. My parents use to have to frequently stop on the side of the road during any of our family travels. There was one place in particular that I remember which was a pig farm in Te Hana - I still remember the sign some 30 years later and even now the place is still there.

Up until now I thought I'd grown out of it....not so. After we drove around some of the gravel dirt country roads here we ended up going through some very winding roads for at least an hour and a half. My tummy was not impressed so when we arrived in Kohukohu we stopped so I could buy ginger beer at the local dairy which worked a treat. Ginger is suppose to be a natural remedy for sickness apparently - I ended up sitting in the sun on a park bench breathing in some fresh air and ended up being as right as rain.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

The old Horeke Hotel

While driving along some backroads we stopped in this little place. Horeke is in the Hokianga Harbour and boasts a few houses, some old buildings and a hotel/pub. According to the hotel website it was the 2nd town ever established in NZ and is the home of the first commercial ship building yard in NZ dating back to 1826. The hotel is the oldest surviving pub in the country and the oldest part dates to 1833. There is a wharf/jetty at the back of the building leading to the water which looks a bit dilapidated but it probably still serves a purpose.

Maraeroa Maori Urupa Church

Horeke Road in the Hokianga District runs for about 35 minutes with most of it being a dirt gravel road. Much of New Zealand's small towns are linked by this and along the way once again I asked the other half to stop when this baby caught my eye.

For some reason I can't find any information whatsoever about it except that it's named Maraeroa Historical Church and is on 1737 Horeke Road. There is only one grave there belonging to a Private Hone Matiu who served in the 1st World War and died in 1919.

Now sometimes we've found that with old churches the door is either locked or unlocked - this one was the latter. He's not into old buildings as much as I am so I carefully walked inside and what I saw was a very sparse but well looked after interior - looks quite humble doesn't it? From the retro pattered carpet mat down the center of the aisle to the table covered with a cloth and fresh flowers to the weaving hanging on the walls. Under the table to me it looked like a cloth or a cloak with feathers possibly hanging off the end and on top of the table is a large bible.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

The Dog Tax War Mural

On the side wall of the Rawene 4 square (kind of like a corner shop or small store) is this mural painted in memory of the historic Dog Tax War of 1898. Apparently the annual tax was introduced because many people, especially Maori around the area owned dogs for hunting and they thought it was a type of discrimination against them.

In the 1890s a dog tax was introduced of 2 shillings and sixpence. The Maori people from Kaikohe West through to the harbour were opposed to it including Waima's Hone Toia not only because many used their animals for hunting but because the tax represented the erosion of their chieftainship. Toia said "first they're going to tax dogs, then they're going to tax people". The stand off occurred when an armed Toia with fewer than 20 men marched to Rawene. Although no blood was shed, the government sent a 120 strong force to the town where he was arrested and served time in old Mount Eden prison.

Unfortunately I've been unable to find the artist of this work but it is located near the Rawene Ferry wharf at the bottom of the main street in the Hokianga.

Linking up with Monday Murals and Our World Tuesday.

Omanaia historical church

Last Sunday on our travels around the area this church caught my eye from the main highway and we turned into the driveway to check it out.

Omanaia Historical Church was apparently founded in 1884 and is the second oldest standing church building in the Hokianga district.

There was a heaviness in the air but we couldn't believe it when I tried the front door and it was unlocked. This is the interior - looks like someone has really looked after this property as other churches we've explored are in nowhere near as good condition.

1st World War Memorial in Kohukohu

Since we've moved to Northland we have been trying to visit one new place every couple of weeks. Yesterday we drove about an hour or so out to Kohukohu, a small town on the edge of the Hokianga River. This was the first thing we saw after getting out of the car for some much needed fresh air including these two nice Maori ladies who I greeted by saying "kia ora" meaning "hello" and it was good to hear a cheery "kia ora" back with a smile.

This is the Hokianga Arch of Remembrance dedicated to those who fought in the 1st World War. It was dedicated in 1927 but after being damaged by trucks needing access to the wharf in the 1950s it was moved to the sports field and modified with some gates. Recently it was moved back near the original site at the wharf and has had extra names added to it from the 2nd World War and Vietnam War.

Very quiet Oponini

This is one very quiet place in the off season times of Autumn, Winter and Spring. Oponini is located on the west coast of Northland. In 1855, John Webster, who had arrived in New Zealand in 1841, bought 700 acres of rough land at Opononi and established a homestead and pastoral farm which he developed into a showplace, entertaining vice-royalty several times. He also built a wharf, gum-store and a trading store. In 1894, Webster put the house and farm on the market. The store and gum store were taken over by Alfred Sprye Andrewes who later converted the gum store into a two storey hotel.

Opononi became famous throughout New Zealand in the summer of 1955 and 1956 due to the exploits of a dolphin called Opo. The Opononi Post and Telephone was opened in 1892 and operated until 1989. The road between Opononi and Omapere was developed in the mid 1930s leading to ribbon development. In 1959, a fire destroyed the Opononi Hotel and Opononi Store. Information from: Hokianga Tourism.

On the brief time we were there it was very quiet, the pub was closed and the only sign of action was a fishing charter taking people out into the harbour. A nice spot, but a bit too quiet for me.