Rangihoua Heritage Park
First side-by-side settlement
Rangihoua Heritage Park is the site of Aotearoa New Zealand's first planned European settlement, a place where Māori and Europeans learned to live together.
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The significance of Rangihoua Heritage Park
The idea to bring missionaries to Te Pēwhairangi the Bay of Islands grew out of a friendship between Ngāpuhi rangatira Te Pahi and Reverend Samuel Marsden. Te Pahi had visited New South Wales and met Marsden in 1805. Rangihoua Bay, the site that was chosen for the missionaries, was presided over by the rangatira Ruatara who could also see economic and social benefits for his people by living side-by-side with Europeans.
On December 22 1814, Marsden and three missionary families stepped ashore at Oihi and established New Zealand’s first missionary station, located adjacent to Rangihoua Pā. Three days later Marsden delivered New Zealand's first Christmas Day sermon at the site that is now marked by the Marsden Cross memorial.
By 1816 the missionary community of Oihi was living in cottages and had commenced farming the small piece of land that they were originally allocated by Ruatara. The mission was a place of many firsts, including the first European-style school and one of the first places where te reo Māori was written down.
As an isolated settlement, thousands of kilometres from the nearest European town, Oihi mission station had to be as self-sufficient as possible. By 1832, due to the unsuitability of the surrounding area for agriculture, it was abandoned.
Rangihoua Heritage Park is proudly cared for by the Marsden Cross Trust Board in partnership with the Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai.
What to see and do at Rangihoua
Take your time
Allow at least two hours to explore the highlights of Rangihoua Heritage Park. This is a great walk to do with kids as it is fairly short at 1.1km with good stable walking tracks and lots of variety.
Walk with a view
Starting at Rore Kāhu, the stunning architectural shelter at the top of the walk, check out the models of the landscape to give you the lay of the land before you set out.
Enjoy stunning views of the Bay of Islands and the Rangihoua Pā site as you head along the track that leads to the beach.
Discover the full story
Gain an understanding of the joys and hardships of the people who lived here by reading the excellent interpretation boards located along the path.
Stand where the Marsden Cross memorial marks Aotearoa's very first Christmas Day service before exploring the terraces that housed New Zealand’s first planned European settlement.
Enjoy the bay
Enjoy a swim or picnic at the beach and keep an eye out for Aotearoa New Zealand’s oldest lemon trees - they still bear plenty of fruit.
