Whitianga

The place is located in the heart of Whitianga Mercury Bay on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, one of the most popular tourist destinations of New Zealand's North Island 208 kilometers east of the city of Auckland. With 3,768 inhabitants ( 2006 census ) Whitianga one of the larger settlements in the Thames - Coromandel District ( Waikato region ).

The area around Whitianga has been visited more than 1000 years ago by the Maori. Around the year 950 AD, finally, the first settlement was established by the tribal members of the Maori explorer Kupe, the name " Te Whitianga a Kupe " ( German about: Crossing Place of Kupe ). Even today makes a ferry a 45-minute detour unnecessary.

Other tribes in turn named the bay where they settled, after their leader, such as " Te Whanganui A Hei " ( German: The large bay of the " Hei "). When James Cook reached the bay in 1769, it was renamed to its present name, "Mercury Bay". As of 1836, the first Europeans began settling here.

For decades, Whitianga was as a port for the export of wood in many countries, eg used by Norway, France or Italy. At the time, the place served as a center for the processing of flax and wood of Kauri trees, marine, mining and the production of rubber. Today Whitianga is a thriving small town with lots to do for water and fishing enthusiasts.