Nau Mai, Haere Mai, Piki Mai, Kake Mai

Welcome to the Kohukohu website, a website full of information about this small community for the use of visitors, members of the community and the curious.

Kohukohu is an historic settlement on the Hokianga Harbour in the far north of New Zealand. It enjoys mild summers and winters and spectacular scenery.

Motiti Island viewed from Kohukohu

The history of Kohukohu begins with a visit from Kupe on his return voyage to Hawaiiki. Angry at the food from the hangi being insufficiently cooked, he cursed those responsible using the word "kohu". Hence Kohukohu.

The word "kohu" also has two other meanings - "misty" and "basin". As misty mornings promise a lovely day in the Hokianga, this may be the preferred meaning. Take your choice!

Motiti Island, painted by Augustus Earle 1827

Kohukohu, Early NZ History

The Masonic Lodge

The first recorded European to enter the Hokianga Harbour arrived in 1819. By the 1830's the area was the heart of New Zealand's timber industry- the harbour was a busy port with often seven vessels tied up at once.

Here on the northern shore, the Hokianga Harbour splits into two rivers, the Mangamuka branching inland to the northeast and the Waihou leading towards the east past Mangungu, Horeke and Rangiahua (all historic areas).

Where the river divides is a small island called Motiti which was painted by Augustus Earle, the first European artist to spend several month in New Zealand, during his visit to the Hokianga in 1827. He wrote "we were sailing up a spacious sheet of water, which became considerably wider after entering it; while majestic hills rose on each side .... looking up the river we beheld various headlands stretching into the water and gradually contracting its width, 'till they became fainter and fainter in the distance and all was lost in the azure of the horizon". For nearly one hundred years Kohukohu was an important milling town. People could spend all day shopping and doing business.

Kohukohu Today

The Old Police Station

Over the decades, a number of Kohukohu's commercial buildings have been lost to fire, but fortunately many historic and attractive buildings remain on the hillsides overlooking the harbour.

Kohukohu's people, buildings and beautiful setting make it an ideal place to appreciate the warmth and charm of small town New Zealand. Being around one hours drive from many major tourist attractions such as the Bay of Islands, 90 Mile Beach and Tane Mahuta, Kohukohu is a perfect base from which to explore the whole of the far north. In days gone by, 'the river was the road', and today the Hokianga Harbour ferry still brings many of our visitors on the last stages of their journey to Kohukohu.