Pahi, New Zealand

Pahi is a settlement in Northland, New Zealand. It is at the end of a peninsula in the Kaipara Harbour, bounded by inlets to the Paparoa Creek to the west and the Pahi River to the east. Paparoa is 6 km to the north, and Matakohe is 4 km to the north-west.[1][2]

Pahi
Pahi Hotel circa 1940
Pahi
Coordinates: 36°9′25″S 174°13′40″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionNorthland Region
DistrictKaipara District

Pahi was one of several Kaipara settlements established by a religious group known as Albertlanders. Port Albert near Wellsford was the main settlement, and Matakohe was another.[3] After the Paparoa Block was settled in 1863, a road was constructed to the port at Pahi in 1865.[4]

The steamer Minnie Casey ran a weekly service from Pahi to Helensville on the south side of the Kaipara from 1882, and the S.S. Ethel took over from 1891–95, after which services went only to Matakohe and Pahi.[4]

Pahi is best known for its annual regatta; the Pahi Regatta Club was established in 1887, and a regatta has been held every year except 1925.[5] Taking place over three days, events included sailing and later motorboat races, children's sports, foot races, aquatic events, rowing, and horse-swimming races across the 0.5 miles (800 m) strait to Whakapirau and back. Horse-swimming races ceased after a horse and rider drowned.[6]

The Pahi Reserve and Campground contains a Moreton Bay fig tree (Ficus macrophylla) with a girth of over 14 metres (46 ft), one of the largest specimens of this species in the world, and considered "one of the ten finest exotic [trees] in New Zealand."[7][8]

  • View of Pahi and the Kaipara Harbour coastline circa 1940
  • The Moreton Bay fig at Pahi Reserve
  • Signboard in front of the Pahi Moreton Bay fig

References
  1. Peter Dowling (editor) (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 7. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 30. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  3. Sir Henry Brett and Henry Hook (1927). The Albertlanders: Brave Pioneers of the 'Sixties. p. 234.
  4. Ryburn, Wayne (1999). Tall Spars, Steamers & Gum. ISBN 0-473-06176-7.
  5. Paparoa at 150. Warkworth: Paparoa and Districts 150th Celebration Organising Committee. 2012. ISBN 978-0-473-22682-4.
  6. Moffatt, Steve (28 January 2011). "Where in the world is Pahi?". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  7. Burstall S.W. & Sale E.V. (1984) Great Trees of New Zealand. p.39.
  8. "The New Zealand Tree Register". register.notabletrees.org.nz. Retrieved 28 September 2018.


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