187 km from Opotiki

Tikitiki

147 km from Gisborne

Tikitiki lies in a valley on the bend in the road and is reached after having driven through some pleasant farmland with areas of forestry development. Tikitiki contains much of interest to the student of the Maori. The people here are descendants of the Whatonga and Toi saga, the first to settle and establish themselves in the fertile valley through which the Waiapu River flows. Good fishing at the mouth. Tikitiki has a school, a health centre, an R.S.A., Postal Centre and Café.
Above Tikitiki township is the flat hill Pukemaire on which are clearly defined trenches dug in 1864 during the Maori Wars, superimposed on the older earthworks and habitations of the pre- Pakeha era. Turn left to travel to Rangitukia.
St. Mary’s Church at Tikitiki should on no account be missed. The project had to excel all other churches and have Maori architectural design, hereby leading to a resurgence of Maori arts and crafts in the area. The wonderful carvings and Tukutuku woven panels were created by local Ngati Porou craftspeople and the pulpit was a gift from the Te Arawa tribe. Entry to the church is by gold coin donation inside the church.

St Mary's Church