The Mahia Peninsula is located on the east coast of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

's North Island

North Island

The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...

, between the cities of Napier

Napier, New Zealand

Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...

 and Gisborne

Gisborne, New Zealand

-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...

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Geography

The peninsula is 13.5 miles (21.7 km) long and 7 miles (11.3 km) wide rising to its highest point at Rahuimokairoa reaching about 1302 feet (396.8 m) above sea level. Mahia was initially an island which over time, has had a sand bar join it to the North Island. Whales often strand on the shallow sand build up.

Early whalers had a whaling station on the farm 'Kini Kini", sheltered by 'Long Point' on the west coast of the peninsula. Portland Island ('Waikawa')

Portland Island, New Zealand

Portland Island is a small island off the southern tip of the Mahia Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand. It is used for sheep farming....

 was named by Kahungunu when he visited there to look for fresh drinking water and only found salt water. Waikawa means 'sour water'. Waikawa is a small island off the southern tip of Mahia Peninsula with an unmanned lighthouse. The name Mahia means 'indistinct sound'.

Culture

The area is a popular seaside resort and contains a holiday park dating back to the 60s. The remaining settlement consists mostly of holiday houses and baches

Bach (New Zealand)

A bach is a small, often very modest holiday home or beach house. Alternatively called a crib, they are an iconic part of New Zealand history and culture, especially in the middle of the 20th century, where they symbolized the beach holiday lifestyle that was becoming more accessible to the...

. Sheep and cattle farms are still an important part for the local community, however the most important activity of the area is tourism. Mahia's population swells greatly during the warmer months and in particular during school holidays. Mahia is famous for its surf, scuba diving, hiking, and fishing . Many tourists stay in Napier

Napier, New Zealand

Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...

, Hastings

Hastings, New Zealand

The city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...

 or Wairoa

Wairoa

Wairoa is a town in New Zealand's North Island. It is the northernmost town in the Hawke's Bay region, and is located on the northern shore of Hawke Bay at the mouth of the Wairoa River and to the west of Mahia Peninsula...

 and travel to Mahia Peninsula for the day. Morere Hot Springs is located at the northern end of Mahia Peninsula.

In Maori legend, Whatonga who came to New Zealand in search of his grandfather Toi

Toi (name)

Toi is a fairly common man's name in Māori and other Polynesian languages.The best known men named Toi are the following from Māori legendary history, who are sometimes confused with one another:...

, settled at Mahia. The community these days is still generally a mix of Maori and European. The local Maori tribe are known as Ngāti Rongomaiwahine.

More recently Mahia has become famous for the presence of Moko the Dolphin

Moko (dolphin)

Moko was a male bottlenose dolphin who associated with humans on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand from 2007 to 2010.Moko, short for Mokotahi, a headland on Mahia Peninsula, was three-years-old as of July 2009. He resided at Mahia Beach for two and a half years from 2007 to...

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