Te Araroa is a town in the Gisborne Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated 175 km north of Gisborne city, along State Highway 35 between Tokata and Awatere. Te Araroa is the birthplace of noted Māori politician Sir Āpirana Ngata. Māori in the area are generally associated with the Ngāti Porou iwi. It is 100 metres from its local beach. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "the long path" for Te Araroa. Te Araroa sits at the base of Whetumatarau at the eastern end of Kawakawa Bay. In the grounds of the local school stands Te Waha o Rerekohu, one of the largest pohutukawa tree in New Zealand. The township has a medical centre, general store, takeaways, fire station and police station. In 2006 the local pub, the Kawakawa Hotel was ravaged by a major fire. Recreational facilities include a children's playground, skate park and rugby domain. The local Hinerupe Marae and meeting house, located in the township, is a tribal meeting place of the Ngāti Porou hapū of Ngāti Tuere, Te Whānau a Hinerupe, Te Whānau a Karuai and Te Whānau a Tuwhakairiora. In 1996 an electrical fire destroyed part of Hinerupe Marae. The community rallied to raise funds to build a new marae on the same site as the former 130-year-old building. One major fundraising event The Out of the Ashes Festival saw New Zealand performers Sir Howard Morrison, Dave Dobbyn, Neil Finn and Annie Crummer perform at the Te Araroa Domain. The new marae complex opened on 30 March 2002. Four other Ngāti Porou marae are also located in the valley. Punaruku Marae and Te Pikitanga meeting house, located north of the township, is a meeting place of Ngāti Kahu. The Tutua or Paerauta Marae and Te Poho o Tamakoro meeting house, located west of the township, is a meeting place of Ngāi Tamakoro and Ngāti Tuere. Te Whānau a Hinerupe has two marae, located south of the township: Awatere Marae and Te Aotaihi meeting house, and Hurae Marae and meeting house.
Education
Te Waha o Rerekohu Area School is a Year 1–13 co-educational state area school with a roll of students as of
