Whakapau taniwha – Industry

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Anglican missionaries in the Bay of Islands first explored interests in the Hokianga as they were unable to compete with the whalers in acquiring food from Māori there, which, led to expeditions to the west. On one such expedition in 1819, Reverend Samuel Marsden was eager to examine Hokianga for himself, as a potential field for mission work, and as a harbour for shipping.

However, it was not until 1826 when Captain Herd purchased land for the first New Zealand Company to form settlements here for tradesmen to obtain spars and to manufacture flax, did it take off. Early settlers Mc Donnell, Clendon, Manning and Cochrane saw the potential of the harbour and the abundance of natural resources it offered in timber and flax and exploited this.

By 1833, Hokianga was a busy commercial centre. Very little of the goods was sold locally in New Zealand. Most of the timber was exported to Australia, as too was flax to be manufactured into rope and cloth for sails, and Kauri gum was exported to Europe and used in the preparation of paint, varnish and linoleum.