In 1860, 6.5 million acres of land were sold by Poulini chiefs
to the Crown in exchange for 12,000 acres of reserves and a £300
cash settlement. 300 acres of land were set aside at Whataroa
for the Maori.
In the 1880s, during the early days of the Gold Rush, Whataroa was were Tastae and his family lived and worked from the Whataroa River upto the snow line.
Whataroa is probably best known for it's White Heron (Kotuku) Sanctuary along the Waitangiroto river - where the birds come to nest from September to March - and it's introduced species of wild deer, thar and chamois.
When in Whataroa, do take the Stone Grill at the Pub.
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Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook