Hawke's Bay
A Brief History of Hawke’s Bay
- Māori first settled in Hawke’s Bay around 1250–1300 AD.
- Early Māori settlements were established from Māhia Peninsula in the north to Pōrangahau on the south coast. Ngāti Kahungunu arrived during the 16th century and became the dominant iwi (tribe) in the region.
- James Cook sailed the Endeavour into Hawke Bay in October 1769. Captain and crew remained on board, but some Māori paid them a visit by waka (canoe). Some trading of goods occurred during this visit, and during Cook’s second visit in 1773.
- Mission stations were not established in Hawke’s Bay until 1844, when one was started by William and Elizabeth Colenso at Waitangi, near Clive, and another by James and Elizabeth Hamlin at Wairoa.
Māori Heritage in Te Matau-a-Māui
• Ngāti Kahungunu is the largest iwi (tribe) in Hawke’s Bay, and the third largest in New Zealand. Its people claim descent from both the earliest-known settlers of the region and the eponymous ancestor Kahungunu and his kin, who arrived later.
• There are 75 Ngāti Kahungunu and 11 Rangitāne marae in Hawke’s Bay. Waipapa a Iwi marae in Mōhaka is distinguished by its historic round meeting house, Rongomaiwahine. The Tākitimu meeting house in Wairoa was unveiled in 1938 as a memorial to Sir James Carroll, a distinguished Ngāti Kahungunu politician.
• Ōtātara pā in Taradale, which dates from the 16th century, is one of the most important pā sites in New Zealand. Ngāti Paarau hapū of Waiohiki are kaitiaki (guardians) of the site.
• Māori lost most of their land through sales and confiscations. Despite this, Hawke’s Bay still has a significant Māori population in the 21st century.
• Today, nearly a quarter of the Hawke’s Bay population identify as Māori, a number higher than the national percentage.
From the summit of Te Mata Peak in Havelock North there is a 360-degree outlook that shows the diversity of the Hawke’s Bay landscape. There are ranges, hills and plains, watched over by the ever-present Ruahine and Kaweka ranges to the west; the curve of Hawke Bay itself, tipped by Māhia Peninsula and the ranges surrounding Lake Waikaremoana in the north; and a hint of the eastern coast and hill country that stretches south to Cape Turnagain. The Wairoa, Mōhaka and Esk rivers run down from the ranges in the north. The Tūtaekurī, Ngaruroro and Tukituki rivers flow through the central plains. All drain into the ocean on the east coast.
New Zealand’s Oldest Wine Region
• Vines were first planted in Hawke’s Bay back in 1851 by French Missionaries who established Mission Estate.
• By the early 20th century, Mission Estate, Te Mata Estate (1896), Vidal Estate (1905), McDonalds Winery (1897 - Church Road) and Glenvale Winery (1933 - Esk Valley Winery) were all established, confirming Hawke’s Bay as a pioneering, innovative wine region.
Hawke's Bay Wine Production
Hawke's Bay is New Zealand’s second largest wine region, with the largest premium red wine production in the country. Whilst many of the national wine brands have a presence here, the majority of Hawke’s Bay wineries produce less than 200,000 litres per annum and are family owned, offering truly boutique premium wines and an artisan experience.
Hawke’s Bay – one more time
> New Zealand’s oldest established wine region (1851)
> Largest premium red wine production in NZ
> Renowned for full-bodied Red Blends, elegant Syrah and rich, complex Chardonnays
> Over 200 vineyards including 58 independent growers, 98 wineries and 38 cellar doors
> Hawke’s Bay offers extensive wine tourism experiences (wine tours, vineyard cycling, winery concerts, urban wineries), indeed it is the home of the winner of the First National Cellar Door Award 2019 – Church Road.
https://hawkesbaywine.co.nz/about/