Mangonui - a story of a great shark

A trip to Northland should always include a stop at the idyllic township of Mangonui, once the heart of the Whaling industry in New Zealand. Now a popular destination for tourists and fishing enthusiasts, Mangonui has adapted to the needs of the era.

THE DESTINATION

1/31/20241 min read

Mangonui, meaning "great shark" is a township on the west bank of the Mangonui Harbour at the southern end of Doubtless Bay. According to Māori tradition, the canoe Riukākara, captained by Pāoa and later associated with the chief Moehuri, landed at Mangōnui.

The name Mangōnui, meaning "big shark," originates from the legend that a guardian taniwha (spirit) in the form of a large shark guided the canoe safely into the harbour. While some traditions also associate the explorer Kupe with the wider Doubtless Bay area (landing at nearby Taipā), Riukākara is specifically cited as the waka that arrived at Mangōnui harbour.