Hato Hemi, the Church in Mitimiti
The Church in Mitimiti
Courtesy of Stuart Park (NZ Historic Places Trust)
The church is named Hato Hemi (St. James). It is Catholic and is the only church in New Zealand which is built on marae land.
Mitimiti Beaches
Mitimiti has one of the most remote beaches you can find on this planet. If you want to forget the rest of the world, this is the place to be.
These Beaches are at the same time wild, violent, thundering rough and calm, cool, peaceful relaxing. You can drive with your car along these beaches. If you go North, you will get close to Pawarenga. If you go South, you arrive at the North head of the Hokianga Harbour entrance. Be aware the speed limit is 100 km/h, as these beaches are officially a public road, and you can get fined for speeding. And make sure you travel at low tide.
The Warawara Forest
Sometimes wild, sometimes calm - whatever the weather have a great time on the beach in Mitimiti, Hokianga
There is a serious threat currently presented by Kauri dieback disease to the future of New Zealand's kauri forests. At present the disease has not been recorded within the conservation area of the Warawara Forest (one of very few forests free of the disease), and it is vital that it stays this way.
The tracks in the forest are poorly formed and are not maintained; they are very muddy in many sections, so walkers have a relatively high potential to spread Kauri dieback disease into this forest (especially those who have visited other areas with kauri in Northland, most of which are infected).
There are currently no wash/disinfection station facilities within Warawara. Because of this risk, travelers are actively discouraged from visiting the Warawara Forest.
The forest covers an area of around around 10,000ha of native bush with some very rugged hill country that has been saved because it is virtually inaccessible. In 1913 the Royal Commission recommended it should be set aside as a reserve. It is one of the largest kauri stands in the country. The Warawara was one of the areas where Kauri trees were tapped for gum.
Whina Cooper referred to the Warawara in one of her speeches as "Te wairua o te iwi o Te Rarawa." "The living spiritual being of the Warawara people." The public conservation area is 6943 ha and this is surrounded by another 6566 ha of private lands, about half of which is also in forest.
The conservation area is now jointly managed by the local hapu, Te Rarawa iwi, and the Department of Conservation this relationship recognises the strong cultural connection of this ngahere to these local north Hokianga communities.
Logging initiated by the government in the 1960s-1970s removed about a third of the original kauri forest.