Hawera Attractions
Under the south side of Mount Taranaki, at the northwest end of Taranaki Bay, is the agricultural market town of Hawera (pop. 11,000); the Maori name means 'burnt earth'. Threatened by the Hauhau movement after the land wars in the Taranaki region, the settlers withdrew southward to Patea. In 1870 a military post was established at Hawera, and round this a settlement grew. Angered by the government's tolerance in its dealings with the Maori leader Te Whiti and the passive resistance and civil disobedience of his tribe, the local settlers drove out the Maoris in 1879 and proclaimed the Republic of Hawera; the separatist movement was quickly put down by the government.
Tawhiti Museum
The Tawhiti Museum, housed in a former dairy, has a rich collection of material on the eventful history of the region.
The museum uses life size exhibits and scale models.
The museum uses life size exhibits and scale models.
Hours
February 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | Closed | Closed | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
June 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 |
September 1 to December 25
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | Closed | Closed | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
December 26 to January 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
Turuturu-mokai Pa
Of the fortified Maori settlement of Turuturu-mokai Pa, built long before the arrival of the Europeans, there remain parts of the ramparts and storage pits.
There also survive five outer strongpoints (2.5km north of Hawera; signposted). In the late 1860s British troops constructed a defensive position outside the pa, which was attacked and overrun in 1868 by Hauhau warriors and a white defector.
There also survive five outer strongpoints (2.5km north of Hawera; signposted). In the late 1860s British troops constructed a defensive position outside the pa, which was attacked and overrun in 1868 by Hauhau warriors and a white defector.
Water Tower
From the water tower (50m high) at the corner of High Street and Albion Street there are magnificent views.
Hawera Surroundings
Lake Rotorangi
Inland, in a densely forested area, is Lake Rotorangi, a 46km long reservoir on the Patea River, created in 1984 to supply water to a large hydroelectric power station. The lake attracts large numbers of anglers and sailing enthusiasts. It can be reached from Hawera, or via Eltham and Patea.
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Ohawe Beach
7km west of Hawera, at the mouth of the Waigongoro River, is Ohawe Beach, where the first moa bones were found, from which the skeleton of this long-extinct giant flightless bird has been reconstructed. It is believed that there were several species of moa still living in the Taranaki area in the 14th C.
Patea, New Zealand
28km southeast of Hawera is the military settlement of Patea (pop. 2000), established in the 1860s, which played an important part in the land wars. It is now a dairy- and sheep-farming region. In good weather there is a fine view from here of Mount Taranaki (Egmont).
Here too is a 17m long concrete model of the Aotea tribal canoe, made in 1933 to commemorate the ancestors of the Maori tribe who once lived in this area.
Here too is a 17m long concrete model of the Aotea tribal canoe, made in 1933 to commemorate the ancestors of the Maori tribe who once lived in this area.
Patea - Museum of South Taranaki (Aotea Utanga Nui)
(In Patea, New Zealand)
The Museum of South Taranaki has a collection of Maori artifacts and mementos of the early European settlement.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Tawhiti Bush Railway
3km northeast of Hawera an old railroad once used for transporting logs has been reopened as a tourist attraction.
Te Ngutu-o-te-manu Battlefield
23km northwest of Hawera by way of Okaiawa is the battlefield of Te Ngutu-o-te-manu (1868), in which government troops suffered heavy losses in an effort to avenge the taking of their position at Turuturu-mokai Pa.
