Waimate North: Te Waimate Mission and Early History

Waimate North is best understood through the history of Te Waimate Mission. Here, early European settlement history, an important historic building and a specific moment in the history of Te Tiriti o Waitangi come together. Visitors looking for a place with a clear historical focus can trace Waimate North’s development from the founding of the mission to an important event in 1840.

Te Waimate Mission and its history

Te Waimate Mission was founded in 1830 as a model village and New Zealand’s first European farm. Te Waimate Mission House was built in 1832 and is New Zealand’s second-oldest surviving building. The two dates mark different milestones: 1830 marks the founding of the mission, while 1832 marks the construction of a building that still stands today. On 9 and 10 February 1840, Te Waimate Mission was the site of the second signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Together, these events form a historical arc, from the founding of the place to its role in the history of the Treaty.

The Church of St John the Baptist Sunday School is also part of this historical picture. It is considered a rare, early surviving example of a New Zealand Sunday school. For travellers interested in historic buildings, it adds another aspect to the story of the Mission House: the focus is not just on a single building, but also on a rare surviving example of a particular building type.

Historically, Te Waimate served as a stopover between the Bay of Islands to the east and Hokianga Harbour to the west. This role reflects the travel connection between the two regions at the time. From Kerikeri, Te Waimate Mission is a 20-minute drive along one of New Zealand’s earliest roads.

Events are regularly held at Te Waimate Mission. If an event is relevant to your trip, check the current official events listing and the dates provided there in advance.

Other perspectives in the Far North District

The wider Far North District offers other historic buildings, each with its own focus. The Stone Store in Kerikeri was built between 1832 and 1836 and is New Zealand’s oldest intact stone building and oldest surviving warehouse. Pompallier in Russell was built in 1841 and 1842 and is among the country’s earliest surviving French colonial buildings. The former Mangonui Courthouse in Mangonui, built in 1892, is a well-preserved and unusually intact example of a small courthouse of national significance. These examples differ in age and building type, offering further historical themes to explore in the Far North District.

The Te Ahu Museum at the Te Ahu Centre in Kaitāia offers a different way to explore regional history. It presents the history of the Far North District, including pre-European Māori artefacts, gold mining, Dalmatian heritage, kauri gum and timber, early shipwrecks, and missionaries and pioneers. Films, interactive exhibits, virtual landscape tours and informative displays are designed for visitors of all ages. The extensive archive includes documents, journals, newspapers, maps and photographs; more than 500 records are available online.

For a focus on landscapes and walking in the wider Far North District, the Te Paki Coastal Track offers a different perspective. The route features views of the northern coastline, regenerating bush and large wind-sculpted sand dunes. It can be walked in full or in selected sections, and there are four campsites along the route. As operating conditions and possible closures can change, check the latest route information before setting out.

Choose the right focus for your trip

Local history, regional museums and landscapes offer different starting points for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Opononi, Russell, Kawakawa, Coopers Beach, Kaitaia, Te Kao, Te Tii and Whangaroa.

Return to the wider travel overview: Far North District.