History and Museums

Mangawhai Museum
On the village side of Mangawhai is the small attractive museum which is open Saturday mornings 10.00 to 12.30, or by request.

Waipu Heritage Centre
36 The Centre, Waipu. Open 7 days 9.30 am till 4.30 pm (closed Christmas Day) Admission: Adults $5, Children (5 to 15 yrs) $2, Family (2 Adults, 2+ Children) $12

Visitor Centre at Marsden Point Oil Refinery, Ruakaka.
Commentary running every half hour from 10.00 am daily.

Yedit Barn Stop
Pearson Street, Mangawhai. Tel (09) 431 5124. Open 10.00 am - 3.00 pm Thursday to Sunday (or by appointment) Admission: Adults $5 Children 14 and under $2 Family (2 adults and 2 children) $10.00

Waipu History:
During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century many thousands of Scottish peasants in The Highlands were "encouraged " to leave their traditional clan lands in order that their chiefs could use the land to increase their income and continue their chosen lifestyle.

For this and for other reasons such as general poverty, famine and religious dissension a large number of Highland Scots found their way to eastern Canada- Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, and Nova Scotia-between 1790 and 1825 and re established their close knit Gaelic speaking communities.

One such community developed in 1822 in the St Ann's/Baddeck region of Cape Breton. This community was initiated by a particularly zealous religious individual and his group of followers and quickly grew to a thriving community as other emigrants followed their clan connections and relations to Canada.

The Reverend Norman McLeod as he later became known, established a hard working, God fearing, community in the St Ann's area that won respect throughout Nova Scotia. However, despite all their efforts and nearly 30 years of land clearing and farming famine again struck in the late 1840's and the possibility of further emigration presented itself.

The journey to New Zealand from St. Ann's, Nova Scotia, is historically remembered for the mass exodus of around 900 Scottish immigrants between 1850 and 1859.

Led by Rev. Norman McLeod, these Gaelic speaking Celts built their own ships on the shores of their land and embarked on a fantastic 15,000 kilometre journey to New Zealand, in search of a better life than the life of hardship available in St. Ann's. A College dedicated to the teaching of the Gaelic language and Celtic dancing and piping now occupies the land that once belonged to the Rev. Norman McLeod in St Ann's.

The Waipu Heritage Centre (The Waipu Pioneer Memorial Settler's Museum known as The Waipu House of Memories) was established in 1953 as a memorial to the Scottish Nova Scotian pioneers who migrated to New Zealand from Nova Scotia during the 1850s.

These Pioneers created a history of a double migration, firstly from Scotland to Nova Scotia in 1817 and 32 years later to Australia.

Always under the watchful eye and strict control of their leader, the Rev Norman McLeod, the first two boatloads found conditions in Australia to be at the opposite extreme to those in Nova Scotia. Six months after arriving in Adelaide and after the deaths of three of Norman McLeod's sons, the group decided that life in the Australian gold fields was not for them. They had long held an established form of social and community standards and these were being severely put to the test in Australia.

Communication was established with contacts in New Zealand and eventually 47,600 acres of land was allotted to the group for settlement in the Parish of Waipu. Between 1853 and 1860, a total of six ships - the Margaret, Highland Lass, Gertrude, Spray, Breadalbane and the Ellen Lewis brought the families from Nova Scotia. The Margaret and the Highland Lass originally took them to Australia but after a time most of the families sailed on the Gazelle to New Zealand.

A Gaelic speaking community still under the 'guidance' of the Rev. Norman McLeod for some years to come, was re established and the area is still largely populated by the descendants of those first immigrants. Further information on the migration can be obtained from the Waipu Heritage Centre.

1953 saw the Centennial of the landing of the Settlers in Waipu. The celebrations that were held over three days on January 1st, 2nd and 3rd and had been several years in the planning included a three day Highland Games and the opening of The House of Memories. Now 50 years later, the sesquicentennial celebration exceeded those of 1953. One of the highlights being The Grand Pageant - a show by the local community recounting the details of the double migration which has been videoed along with other events over the 5 days of celebrations and International Highland Games from January 1st to the 5th. The videos can be viewed & purchased from the Waipu Heritage Centre.

Mangawahai History:
The Ngati-Whatua Maori tribe, who were the original settlers of Mangawhai, were annihilated in a battle with Hone-Heke’s tribe from the north in 1825. It is only in very recent years that a few Maori have moved back into the area after the Tapu was lifted as a consequence of that famous battle. There is today a small monument marking the area on the Mangawhai Kaiwaka road.

European settlement began around 1838 with the harbour being used as a timber port. Mangawhai was a thriving place of Kauri gum diggers and Kauri cutters. Onehunga Wharf piles were built from totara logs hauled out of Mangawhai Bush by introduced bullocks in 1871.

From there sheep, cattle, and dairy farming took hold, and in more recent years horticulture has become a part of the farming scene. One of the largest avocado orchards in the country is situated in Mangawhai.