Edgecumbe: Culture, History and Walks

Edgecumbe brings together memorial sites and cultural traditions with practical ways to get active. The War Memorial Hall, Kaiwhakatere and Papa Taonga Reserve each represent different stories of the area. A skatepark on College Road and the existing Rangitāiki River Walkway add to the picture; themed gardens are nearby. Interest in Edgecumbe thus ranges from a renovated Memorial Hall to a weaving tradition passed down through generations.

A hall with history and several functions

The Edgecumbe War Memorial Hall stands at the corner of Kauri Street and Main Street. It was built in the 1950s and extensively renovated in 1990 after the 1987 earthquake. The building’s construction and renewal give it a tangible place in the history of the area.

The hall has indoor sports facilities, as well as a function room and a kitchen for events. In addition to serving as a memorial hall, it is also used for sports and events. As you explore Edgecumbe, you’ll encounter two sides of the same building here: its history and its spaces for sports and events.

Cultural traditions in Edgecumbe

In Edgecumbe, Kaiwhakatere is the landing place of the ancestral canoes. Traditional harakeke grows in Papa Taonga Reserve; it originally came from Ria’s grandmother. Ria, her mother and her grandmother used the harakeke for weaving. In this way, a cultural tradition associated with the place sits alongside a specific family connection between harakeke and weaving. If you’re interested in local cultural connections, each of these places tells its own story.

Activities and gardens in the surrounding area

There is a skatepark on College Road. If you plan to visit, check the current visitor conditions in advance. The existing Rangitāiki River Walkway runs from the Edgecumbe Squash and Tennis Club to the karting end of Edgecumbe Domain. Its named endpoints can help you place the walk within your own plans for the area. The skatepark and walkway offer two different ways to spend active time: a facility and a route between two places.

Near Edgecumbe, artist and sculptor Maggie Fenton has created two acres of themed gardens designed to delight children. The gardens offer a different focus from activities in town. If you’re planning a visit, check visitor options in advance.

The wider setting: Whakatane District

The wider Whakatane District offers a broader range of landscapes. The district has more than 50 km of coastline, and Te Urewera accounts for about 40 percent of its 4,400 km². The fertile Rangitāiki Plains are a growing region for kiwifruit, olives, citrus fruit, avocados and a wide variety of berries. Coastline, forest and agriculture thus offer different themes for regional trip planning.

At Ōhope Beach, 11 km of easy-to-walk white sand stretch from the entrance to Ōhiwa Harbour to the West End. At Ōhiwa Harbour, options include enjoying the views, walking, fishing and kayaking. The Ngā Tapuwae o Toi Trail passes through Kōhī Point Scenic Reserve, Ōhope Scenic Reserve and Mokorua Scenic Reserve; the trail includes pā sites of great historical significance. Each has a different focus: Ōhope offers a long stretch of beach, the harbour offers a range of activities on the water, and the trail leads through several reserves with historic sites.

Ōhope Scenic Reserve is home to numerous kiwis reintroduced through the Whakatāne Kiwi Project. As wildlife populations and access conditions can change, check the latest conditions before planning a visit. Cultural destinations also enrich the wider region: Kaputerangi is regarded as one of New Zealand’s oldest settlement sites. A visit to Mataatua can offer an in-depth encounter with the people of Ngāti Awa.

Whakatāne Museum features current and upcoming exhibitions in the Te Kōputu a te Whanga a Toi and Te Whare Taonga o Taketake galleries. As exhibition programmes change, check the latest dates before your visit. The museum preserves more than 600,000 collection items and offers researchers, students and the public a wide range of resources and services.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Taneatua, Ohope, Awakeri, Whakatane, Matata, Nukuhou, Murupara, Minginui.

For the wider travel overview: Whakatane District.