Awanui: Art, Kauri and Experiences

Awanui brings together crafts, Māori culture and places with very different themes. At Kā Uri, the focus is on working with Kauri and traditional carving techniques; in a public space, an artwork recalls the history of the town on Rangaunu Harbour. Parks and an audiovisual presentation add to these cultural impressions. This makes it possible to get to know Awanui through specific subjects and experiences, rather than reducing the town to a single excursion.

Kā Uri: Māori Art and Kauri Crafts

The Kā Uri gallery in Awanui celebrates Northland’s heritage with locally made art and special exhibits. It features traditional and contemporary Māori art, as well as handmade pieces with stories connected to the Far North. The exhibits may change over time; however, Kā Uri’s cultural and artistic focus makes it a concrete starting point for exploring the region’s themes.

In the workshop, you can watch experienced carvers working with traditional techniques. This also offers insight into the cultural significance of carving designs and the tools used. One special material is Kauri, which lay buried in the earth for over 45,000 years and is shaped or carved into new works at Kā Uri. If you are interested in the connection between materials, craftsmanship and cultural significance, you will find several aspects of the same subject here: the process, the designs and the stories told through the finished pieces.

The Kā Uri shop offers traditional Māori carvings, handmade jewellery, art and souvenirs. The pieces reflect the cultural heritage and beauty of the Far North; the selection may change. The gallery, workshop and shop offer different perspectives: you can view the exhibits, see how works are made in the workshop, and discover handmade pieces and souvenirs in the shop.

Art in the Townscape and Playgrounds

There is also a cultural landmark in Awanui outside the gallery. An artwork by local artist Māori Erstich is located at a shop on the corner of SH1 and SH10. It depicts a pioke, or shark, which is part of Awanui’s history on Rangaunu Harbour. The image connects an animal with local history and creates a distinctive feature in the townscape.

Extensions to Awanui Park were announced in 2022. The listed features included public gas barbecues, toilets, picnic tables, seating, swings, climbing towers and slides. These facilities should therefore be understood as part of the announcement at the time. The newly upgraded playground at Awanui Park officially opened on 28 May 2022 and includes play equipment for all age groups. A nautical theme was created for the playground at Awanui Reserve as part of its upgrade project. The playgrounds add a different theme to the cultural experiences: one focuses on play for all ages, while the other features a design inspired by the sea.

Gumdiggers Park offers another way to explore Kauri. It features an audiovisual presentation about events connected with the Kauri forest preserved underground. Unlike Kā Uri, where the material is made into new works, the focus here is on the forest and the events associated with it.

More to Discover in the Wider Far North District Destination

If you also explore the wider Far North District destination beyond Awanui, you will find other distinct themes. The Te Ahu Museum at the Te Ahu Centre in Kaitāia explores the history of the Far North District. Its topics range from pre-European Māori artefacts and gold mining to Dalmatian heritage, Kauri gum and timber, as well as early shipwrecks, missionaries and pioneers. Films, interactive exhibits, virtual landscape tours and informative displays are designed for visitors of all ages. The museum also houses an extensive archive of documents, journals, newspapers, maps and photographs; more than 500 records are available online.

The historic buildings of the Far North District offer a different focus from Awanui’s art and craft themes. The Stone Store in Kerikeri was built between 1832 and 1836. It is New Zealand’s oldest intact stone building and the oldest surviving warehouse. Pompallier in Russell was built between 1841 and 1842 and is among New Zealand’s earliest surviving French colonial buildings. These buildings give a regional visit an architectural and historical focus.

If you are more interested in landscapes, the wider Far North District is also home to the Te Paki Coastal Track. The route offers views of the northern coastline, regenerating bush and large, wind-shaped sand dunes. It can be walked in full or in selected sections; there are four campsites along the route. As operating conditions and closures may change, it is recommended that you check the latest information before setting out. Awanui’s crafts, regional history and coastal scenery are distinct highlights, which you can prioritise according to your travel interests.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Matakohe, Lake Ohia, Kaikohe, Matapouri, Whangaruru, Rawhiti, Ruakaka, Otaika.

Back to the main travel overview: Northland.