Tohu Whenua
Landmarks that tell our stories
Nau mai, haere mai ki te kaupapa o Tohu Whenua.
Tohu Whenua are the places that have shaped Aotearoa New Zealand. Located in stunning landscapes and rich with stories, they offer some of our best heritage experiences.
Explore our regions
Walk in the footsteps of extraordinary and ordinary New Zealanders and hear about the deeds, struggles, triumphs and innovations that make us who we are.
Otago
Otago’s Tohu Whenua are places that tell stories of our people’s pioneering spirit, marking some of the cornerstones of our economic and entrepreneurial livelihood.
DiscoverTe Tai Tokerau
Northland
Te Tai Tokerau Northland’s Tohu Whenua, and the interweaving journeys, tell the stories of our beginnings. These are places where both our Māori and European ancestors arrived, centuries apart, and where their identities were defined.
DiscoverTe Tai Poutini
West Coast
Te Tai Poutini West Coast's Tohu Whenua tell the stories of the hardships endured for our country's most prized resources. A region known for its incredible beauty and rich bounty, these are the places where our people's limits were tested and rewarded.
DiscoverLatest Stories & News
26/03/2021
125 years ago today: NZ’s deadliest industrial disaster
Today marks the 125th anniversary of our country's most deadly industrial disaster, the explosion at Brunner Mine that killed 65 men and boys.
15/12/2020
Waiuta joins Tohu Whenua today
Historic West Coast goldtown “Waiuta” will join Tohu Whenua today, recognising it as one of New Zealand’s most treasured heritage places.
30/11/2020
The Secret Lives of Stencils exhibition now open at Totara Estate (Oamaru)
If you’ve ever visited an old woolshed on a farm, chances are you spotted an old stencil or two hanging up on the walls.
11/11/2020
Aotearoa’s oldest lemon tree
Rangihoua Heritage Park, the Bay of Islands site where Māori and Europeans first learned to live side by side, has another claim to fame - it’s home to what many consider to be New Zealand's oldest introduced tree.
14/09/2020
Is your photo the star of Tohu Whenua’s summer marketing campaign?
Have you ever dreamed of having your photo printed in a magazine? We're looking for a great photo to use on our summer campaign, to encourage people to visit our special New Zealand heritage places.
About Us
Tohu Whenua is a visitor programme that connects New Zealanders with our heritage and enhances our sense of national identity by promoting significant historical and cultural sites.
The Tohu Whenua programme forms a network of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most treasured heritage places that visitors of all ages can enjoy.
Download a brochure
Download a regional brochure to help you plan your trip.
