Stories & News
Our Stories
Tantalising tales, fun facts, itineraries and travel tips - find out more about the Tohu Whenua you love.

31/05/2022
Royal visits to Tohu Whenua
Did you know that Queen Elizabeth II has visited Aotearoa New Zealand on ten occasions, between 1953 and 2002? Here are some of the Tohu Whenua she included in her itineraries.
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27/12/2021
Flat-pack furniture at NZ's oldest house
The story behind the 200-year old mahogany dining chairs at Kemp House at Kororipo Heritage Park in Kerikeri.
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19/09/2021
Explore Queenstown’s top three heritage sites by bike
Want to combine a Queenstown cycling adventure with some unique Kiwi culture?
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18/08/2021
Brunner Mine’s iconic bridge
The Brunner Bridge which has linked coalfields on either side of the Grey River since the 1870s has a colourful past.
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26/07/2021
Jane Takotowi Clendon
Jane Clendon was a strong woman of Hokianga Māori descent who had the odds stacked against her.
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17/05/2021
Te Pahi
Te Pahi was a Māori leader who saw the benefits of trade with Pākehā for his people.
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26/04/2021
Rongo Hongi, a remarkable wahine toa of the 1800s
Have you heard of Rongo Hongi? She was a remarkable woman.
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13/04/2021
5 best half-day heritage walks for autumn
Bright blue skies, trees ablaze with colourful autumn foliage, and tranquil tracks - smart walkers know that autumn is one of the most glorious seasons to be in the great outdoors. It’s also a great time of year to discover more of New Zealand’s unique history with Tohu Whenua.
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20/03/2021
Central Otago Touring Route
One of New Zealand's finest road trips takes you to nine of Otago's Tohu Whenua heritage experiences.
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01/02/2021
West Coast heritage by campervan
Mining tunnels, ghost towns, stamper batteries, shipwrecks, all in mind-bogglingly beautiful locations. When it comes to heritage, the West Coast has plenty of iconic hot spots and hidden gems that await discovery. Claudia Babirat explores some of the places that defined the West Coast and shaped our nation.
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Learn how our Tohu Whenua continue to make history.

16/02/2023
Clendon papers added to UNESCO register
A unique collection of family papers spanning almost 150 years, and covering watershed moments in the formation of modern New Zealand, has been added to the UNESCO Aotearoa New Zealand Memory of the World register.
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20/12/2022
Is this place worth the visit?
Have you visited a Tohu Whenua recently? Have your say and be in to win $250!
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10/12/2022
Tohu Whenua launches first mana whenua site
Tohu Whenua has marked a significant milestone today with the launch of its first landscape story-based site, Te Kopikopiko o te Waka near Te Weheka/Fox Glacier.
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20/06/2022
Matariki 2022 - Tohu Whenua events near you
Tohu Whenua landmarks across the country are celebrating Matariki 2022 - and you're invited!
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10/05/2022
Vote for Kororipo's historic pear tree for Tree of the Year!
Rākau o te tau / Tree of the Year Aotearoa is here!
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31/03/2022
Waitangi Treaty Grounds supporting teachers with new histories curriculum
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01/10/2021
Hayes Homestead Centenary
Hayes Homestead celebrates 100 years of Kiwi engineering and ingenuity, including what must have been one of the first whole-home audio systems in New Zealand.
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01/09/2021
Totara Estate stonework repairs underway
“A craftsman who worked on the great cathedrals in Europe could walk onto a job now and the tools would be virtually the same,” says Totara Estate stonemason, Allan Ward.
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12/07/2021
3D snapshot of Kerikeri's Stone Store
A Kerikeri engineering firm has used state of the art 3D laser scanning technology to create a high-precision model of New Zealand’s oldest stone building – and the results are amazing.
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26/06/2021
Matariki the star attraction at Kerikeri Mission Station
Kerikeri Mission Station is celebrating Matariki with events for an entire month! (19 June - 11 July)
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