A brief history

The famous Tahitian explorer and master mariner, Kupe, with a group of his people, set foot in Whitianga approx. 950 AD. Kupe landed at Whitianga which he named TE WHITIANGA-a-KUPE - the crossing place of Kupe. Kupe left some of his people here to settle and he carried on with his journey. Toi-te-Huatahi arrived further south about 1100 AD where his descendants quickly flourished and spread north to eventually dominate the Whitianga area. Hei arrived with the last great migration in about 1350 AD.

He was a sailing master on the canoe Te Arawa. He eventually settled in the Hahei area, naming the area after their tribe building the prominent headland Pa Hereheretaura. He named the Bay Te Whanganui-a-Hei, meaning the great bay of Hei. Hei's descendants intermarried with those of Toi, eventually dominating the area from Whangapoua to Whangamata.

Captain James Cook, master seaman, surveyor and astronomer, sailed on the Endeavour into Mercury Bay on 3rd November 1769. Cook anchored at Cooks Beach off Purangi.

He spent several days in the area exploring and taking astronomical readings and while here he observed the transit of Mercury.

There are two monuments commemorating this event: one at Cooks Beach, and the other at Shakespeare Cliff.

Cook's explorations were the starting point for what was to become a vibrant Kauri timber industry.

The potential of the Whitianga area became recognised in the 1830s when Gordon Browne purchased land for Mr Ranulph Dacre, a prominent merchant of Flaxmill Bay and Cooks Beach, establishing the first European settlement in the area.

Mercury Bay has a rich and interesting history, full of Maori and European settlers arriving, flax milling, collecting & trading Kauri gum, gold mining and ship building. You can learn much more of the local history by visiting our museum.

Mercury Bay Historical Museum opposite the wharf - Phone: 07 866 0730 Exhibits dating from 800-950 AD onwards - Kupe Maori Artifacts - HMS Buffalo - Kauri & Gum industries - Dairy Factory and more

The MB Museum Society has recently produced an excellent video entitled, Twelve Days - Captain Cook in Mercury Bay - 1769. (40 min) This historical event is recorded with a wonderful humourous touch, having two actors fishing, one Maori, the other Pakeha, discussing events of that visit. For further inquiries or to order the video, call the Whitianga Visitor Information Centre under +0064 7 866 5555 or send an email to: info@whitianga.co.nz