Whananaki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whananaki
|
|
|---|---|
Whananaki Footbridge
|
|
 Whananaki
Location in Northland Region
|
|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Northland Region |
| District | Whangarei District |
Whananaki (which is Whananāki in the Māori language) is a small place on the east coast of Northland, New Zealand. It's located northeast of the city of Whangārei.
A stream called Te Wairahi flows from the northwest into Whananaki Inlet. This inlet is a wide, tidal estuary. An estuary is where a river meets the sea, and the water is a mix of fresh and salt water. The inlet separates Whananaki from Whananaki South. To the southeast, you'll find Sandy Bay.
A very long wooden footbridge connects Whananaki North and Whananaki South. It's a fun way to get across! If you don't want to use the bridge, there's also a road about 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) long that crosses the river further up from the estuary. The town of Hikurangi is about 22 kilometres (14 miles) southwest of Whananaki South.
The name Whananāki comes from an old story. It's said that Puhi, the captain of a famous canoe called Mātaatua, named the area. The word Whananāki means "kicking" in Māori. Puhi named it this because mosquitoes made him sleep restlessly, causing him to kick in his sleep!
Whananāki Marae
A marae is a special meeting place for Māori people. The Whananāki Marae and its meeting house, called Whakapaumahara, are important places for the Ngāti Rehua and Ngātiwai tribes (or hapū). A hapū is like a sub-tribe or a large family group.
Work started to make the marae even better in December 2018. In October 2020, the New Zealand Government helped out. They gave $341,028 from a special fund called the Provincial Growth Fund. This money helped continue the improvements and created 14 jobs for people in the area.
Whananaki School
Whananaki School is a school for both boys and girls. It teaches students from Year 1 to Year 8, which covers primary school ages. The school first opened its doors in 1889. As of July 2023, there are 84 students attending Whananaki School.
Famous People from Whananaki
Some well-known people have connections to Whananaki:
- Winston Peters is a leader of a political party in New Zealand called New Zealand First. He has been a very important politician for many years.
- Jim Peters is also a politician. He has worked in local government and represented the people of the area.
