Broadwood: Art, Remembrance and Village History

Broadwood brings together public art, memorial sites and memories of community events. A mosaic and sculptures add to the local history, as do an honour board and a chainsaw carving. Past picnics and demonstrations contribute further chapters. For a stay, this offers a varied perspective on art, remembrance and village history.

Art, Remembrance and Local Motifs

Broadwood’s public artwork also serves as a memorial and picnic area. The mosaic artwork includes three theft-resistant mosaic tables. Decorative sculptures in the picnic area depict Kūkupa, native pigeons. A community mosaic from Kaitāia has also been reinstalled in Broadwood as a public artwork. Different stories come together here: the community artwork from Kaitāia and the Kūkupa motifs depicting native pigeons.

A chainsaw carving in Broadwood commemorates the farmers and stockmen who contributed to the development of this area. The honour board commemorating those who died in the First World War hangs in the entrance area of the Anglican St Mark’s Church on Takahue Saddle Road in Broadwood. The two memorials have different emphases: one honours people who contributed to the area’s development, while the other keeps alive the memory of those killed in the war.

A Track, a Rest Area and Past Traditions

In 2019, a riverside track in Broadwood connected the suspension bridge with the A&P Hall and led back to the main road. If you’re planning to walk this track, check whether it is currently accessible. The rest area was established when the Twin Coast Discovery Route was planned to pass through Broadwood. In 2019, it included raised garden beds and plantings of native species.

Broadwood’s Settlers’ Society began holding annual picnics on the Glass property in 1908. These gatherings included running races and equestrian events, including steeplechases. In earlier years, the Broadwood A&P Show also featured demonstrations of bush felling and sheep shearing. These types of events focus on community gatherings and agricultural demonstrations—a different emphasis from the memorial sites and artworks.

The picnic area is next to the town’s public swimming spot. If you plan to swim there, check access conditions beforehand. This lets you combine a visit to the art and picnic area with your plans, without assuming that access is available.

The Far North District: Nature and Culture

In the Far North District, the Te Paki Coastal Track offers views of the northern coast, regenerating bush and large, wind-shaped sand dunes. You can walk the entire track or selected sections; there are four campsites along the route. As conditions and closures can change, check the latest route information before setting out. This longer walking option is quite different from Broadwood’s art and memorial sites.

In the Far North District, the Te Ahu Museum at the Te Ahu Centre in Kaitāia tells the story of the region. Topics include pre-European Māori artefacts, gold mining, the Dalmatian heritage, kauri gum and timber, and early shipwrecks, missionaries and pioneers. The museum offers films, interactive exhibits, virtual landscape tours and informative displays for visitors of all ages. Its archive includes documents, journals, newspapers, maps and photographs; more than 500 records are available online. Together, the track and museum showcase more of the Far North District’s natural and cultural heritage, which you can consider alongside Broadwood’s local history when planning your trip.

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