Waihīrere

Hexton
Settlement
Growing tangelos at Waihirere orchard
Interactive map of Hexton
Coordinates: 38°36′16″S 177°55′20″E / 38.6043683°S 177.9222628°E / -38.6043683; 177.9222628
CountryNew Zealand
RegionGisborne District
WardTairāwhiti General Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authorityGisborne District Council
 • Mayor of GisborneRehette Stoltz[1]
 • East Coast MPDana Kirkpatrick[2]
 • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MPCushla Tangaere-Manuel[3]

Waihīrere is a settlement and rural area in the Gisborne District of New Zealand's North Island. It is located 16 km (9.9 mi) inland from the coastal city of Gisborne.

The settlement is a stronghold for kapa haka, and is where prominent performer Louise Kingi grew up and learned her skills from elders.[4]

The Rhythm and Vines music festival is located in nearby Waimata Valley.

Marae

Parihimanihi Marae and Te Poho o Māhaki meeting house is a meeting place of the hapū of Ngāi Tūketenui and Ngāti Wahia, from the iwi of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki.[5][6]

Hangi Pants, a short film about a conflict at a tangi at the marae, was released in 2020.[7]

In October 2020, the Government committed $102,771 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Parihimanihi Marae, and create three jobs.[8]

Parks

Waiherere Domain is a public reserve owned and operated by Gisborne District Council, which features a playground, cycleway, dog walking area and picnic area, which is also used for jet skiing and kite surfing.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Election results". Gisborne District Council. 17 October 2025.
  2. ^ "East Coast - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Ikaroa-Rāwhiti – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Kapa haka, a way of life". Gisborne Herald. 1 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  6. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  7. ^ Peters, Mark (25 September 2020). "Short film based on well-told family story". Gisborne Herald.
  8. ^ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Gisborne Parks and Reserves". gdc.govt.nz. Gisborne District Council.