Mokau

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Mokau is in the Waitomo District and Waikato Region local government areas, just north of the boundary with the New Plymouth District and the Taranaki Region.

Mōkau is a small coastal settlement with a permanent population of approximately 115 people, situated on State Highway 3 at the mouth of the Mōkau River. Located around 90km north of New Plymouth and roughly an hour south of Te Kūiti, the township sits just north of the Taranaki–Waikato boundary. While officially part of the Waitomo District and Waikato Region, Mōkau was historically considered part of Taranaki and continues to have strong connections with North Taranaki and New Plymouth.

For a small community, Mōkau offers a useful range of amenities including cafés, takeaway food, a general store, butcher, accommodation, community facilities, local healthcare services and the Mōkau Museum & Gallery. Mōkau School is a small co-educational school catering for students from Years 1-8.

The Mōkau River is central to the area’s lifestyle and is tidal for a considerable distance upstream. It is popular for boating, kayaking, paddleboarding and bird watching and particularly well known for whitebaiting and fishing.

Natural attractions include the Butter Cave, a sea cave accessible around low tide, and the distinctive Flower Pot rock formation near the river mouth.

History: Mōkau has a rich history shaped by the river that runs through it. Long before European settlement, the Mōkau River lay near the boundary between Tainui and Taranaki tribal territories, with Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Tama having particularly strong historical associations with the area. In later years, the river also formed the boundary between the former Auckland and Taranaki Provinces.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Mōkau River became an important transport route for the area’s coal mining and timber industries. Small steamships and other vessels travelled upriver to mines and sawmills, carrying coal and timber out through the river mouth. The challenging sand bar at the mouth made navigation difficult, and the old river port eventually fell out of use. The opening of the Mōkau River Bridge in 1927 provided a vital road connection across the river.

Today, Mōkau sits within the Waitomo District and Waikato Region, just north of the Taranaki regional boundary. The river and its dramatic black-sand coastline remain defining features of the settlement.