Back
When you visit Horowhenua you cannot escape the convergence of history and future, the peace and ease of the vast horizons and lifestyle, and the adventure and exhilaration of the mountains, rivers and parks.
Horowhenua is a place that is awakening to its potential.
Boasting the shortest distance in Aotearoa from mountains to sea and host to a truly unique dune system, Horowhenua has long been valued for its unique and fertile whenua.
Horowhenua's unique microcosm has given birth to a wealth of food producers, with Horowhenua often referred to as the North Island's vegetable bowl.
Home to Muaūpoko, Ngāti Raukawa Ki te Tonga and Rangitāne, Horowhenua has a rich cultural heritage. From stories of the fabled Waitaha people at 7 feet tall, Patupaiarehe or fairy people thought to have inhabited the Makahika Valley, to sophisticated tree forts and warriors said to possess the ability to walk on water – the Horowhenua holds many taonga close to its heart.
Plan your visit
Getting here
Mā hea tae mai ai
Horowhenua is blessed with superb natural assets, treasured historical heritage and a thriving cultural life, all within easy reach of New Zealand's capital city Wellington, which is just an hour drive to the south. Bounded by the Tasman Sea to the west and the bush-clad Tararua Range to the east, the District concentrates a wide range of visitor attractions and facilities in a compact, highly accessible area.