Landmarks Whenua Tohunga reveals Northland heritage

Media release 1 December 2016

Landmarks Whenua Tohunga reveals Northland’s precious culture and heritage

Some of Northland’s most precious culture and heritage sites are brought together under the Landmarks Whenua Tohunga banner giving people the opportunity to learn more about our nation’s stories, Paul James CE Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage said.

“Landmarks Whenua Tohunga is a platform for iwi, hapū, communities and tourism industry partners to encourage people’s interest in the distinctive stories and places which tell the New Zealand story.

“Today’s Landmarks Whenua Tohunga launch also heralds a new partnership between the Ministry, the Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Northland iwi and hapū,” Paul James said.

“For some time these places have been in the sole care of government heritage agencies and now communities will make their valuable contribution in showcasing these important cultural sites.

“Our job is to support national identity and preserve our heritage. Together we can achieve this in a coordinated way through the Landmarks Whenua Tohunga pilot which profiles nine significant Northland sites.

“These are: Cape Brett Rakaumangamanga, Clendon House, Kororipo Heritage Park, Māngungu Mission, Pompallier Mission, Rangihoua Heritage Park, Ruapekapeka Pā, Te Waimate Mission and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

“The pilot offers a quality visitor experience and provides a roadmap to these places which are strongly linked by their culture and heritage value. The sites chosen are already well supported by Heritage New Zealand and the Department of Conservation in terms of visitor information and facilities.

“Visitors can experience Rangihoua Heritage Park and New Zealand’s first planned European settlement and follow the story through to Kororipa Pā, to see New Zealand’s oldest buildings and its oldest European garden at the Kororipo Heritage Park. From here they can journey to the place where religious texts were printed in te reo Māori at Pompallier Mission, and to the nation’s first farm at Te Waimate Mission. And at Māngungu on the glorious Hokianga Harbour is the little mission house where the largest signing of the Treaty of Waitangi took place,” Paul James said.

Chosen because of the important stories they tell, each site will have a Landmarks Whenua Tohunga post or sign to identify them as part of the pilot programme. The Landmarks sign will establish a recognisable brand which people will be aware of as they travel through Northland.

The three-month summer pilot programme will be assessed with a view to a nation-wide rollout.

Landmarks Whenua Tohunga is supported by our key partners Northland iwi and hapū, and Regional Tourism Organisations New Zealand, Tourism Industry Association New Zealand, Automobile Association, Northland Inc, the Far North District Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Find out more at www.landmarks.nz

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