Mahia Peninsula
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[edit] Geography
The Mahia Peninsula is located on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, between the cities of Napier and Gisborne. The peninsula is 21.7 kilometres long and 11.3 kilometres wide rising to its highest point at Rahuimokairoa reaching about 403 metres above sea level.
[edit] Culture
The area is a popular seaside resort and attracts about . The most important activity of the area tourism but there are still sheep and cattle farmers. Mahia is famous for its surf, scuba diving, hiking and fishing. Most tourists stay in Hawke bay near by and travel to Mahia Peninsula for the day. Maori legend states that Whatonga, who came to New Zealand in search of his grandfather, Toi, settled at Mahia. Portland Island, the site of a lighthouse, (in Maori Waikawa named so by Kahungunu when he visited there one day to look for fresh drinking water and only came across salty water thus Waikawa meaning Sour water) is a small island off the southern tip of Mahia Peninsula. The name Mahia means 'indistinct sound'.
Related: mahia.com
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