Kerikeri

Kerikeri is the largest town on the Bay of Islands in New Zealand and is located in the subtropical region Northland. It is located about three hours drive north of Auckland and 80 kilometers north of Whangarei in the Far North District. Kerikeri is often referred to as the "cradle of New Zealand ", because in this place the first mission station in the country was built, and are some of the oldest surviving building of the state here. The population figures rose from 4,197 in 1996 to 5,856 in the census in 2006.

The fertile region around Kerikeri lives mainly of orchards, where, among others, many casual workers are busy, and tourism.

The area around Kerikeri is one of the first in New Zealand, which was settled by Europeans. Even today you will find the oldest house in New Zealand and the oldest standing stone house. At the time of construction of this building the village Gloucestertown or Gloucester Town was called. Previously, the area served as Pā ( fortified settlement ) of the chief Hongi Hika Māori.

The center of Kerikeri basically consists of two main roads ( Cobham and Kerikeri Road). Along this has mainly small businesses settled, industry does not exist in Kerikeri. Tourist interest are the historic building, a replica of Māori village ( Rewa 's Village ) and the Rainbow Falls.

The oldest wooden building in the country, the Mission House is over 100 years usually called Kemp House and was built in 1822 by the Church Missionary Society, an Evangelical missionary organization. The house was initially inhabited by John Butler, the first clergyman of the country until 1832, the blacksmith of the mission, James Kemp moved with his wife Charlotte and finally in 1859 the land around the house acquired by exchange. After that, the building remained until 1976, privately owned until it was eventually handed over to the state.

Not far from the Kemp House is the Stone Store, the oldest stone building in New Zealand.