The district of Kauri is situated between Kamo and Hikurangi, near Whangarei, in Northland, New Zealand. Once a farming district, it is now mostly made up of lifestyle blocks and is an easy commute to town. 

The Kaurihohore block of 4790 acres was sold to the Crown on 8 June 1857 for the sum of £550, the deed of sale being signed by Epiniha Monariki and 12 others. Early records indicate the area was not inhabited; it being covered in heavy bush, fern and ti-tree. 

A group of Nova Scotian Scots soon arrived to break in the land and settle permanently. These hardy people were part of the migration to Waipu led by Rev. Norman McLeod. They chose to settle at Kaurihohore because most of the land had been already taken up at Waipu. The earliest settlers thought nothing of walking to Whangarei Heads to listen to McLeod preach, returning home on a Monday morning and their ties to Waipu remained strong over many years.

The name “Kaurihohore” has several meanings – a bare or smooth barrelled Kauri tree or one with its bark stripped off.  Another variant is the mangled body of a Maori named Kauri who had been worried by wild pigs. Research thus far has failed to unearth the original meaning.

The first European house at Kaurihohore was built by Norman McLennan for his bride Isabella who arrived on the Gertrude in 1856.

When they first married they lived in a split timber and nikau whare. All the settlers worked hard to build their own homes, clear the bush and make a living for themselves. They worked together as a community too, helping each other.  School and Church were important and later, a Hall in which to hold social events. By 1876 there were 165 people in the district living in 33 dwellings.

By 1869 the Daily Southern Cross reported a thriving settlement at Kaurihohore with “many industrious Nova Scotians … [who] have made considerable progress living in comfortable weatherboard houses and [owning] several head of cattle.” In 1871 the same paper noted “This district, with their Highland motto of ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’ appears to be making steady progress, and the more aristocratic Whangarese seem at least to be roused by their neighbour’s example.” Progressive, and well known, further afield, Kaurihohore was often in the news. 

The district produced many fine athletes, being well represented in the Highland Games at Waipu.

Their strength was legendary - Murdoch McPhee and Norman McInnes used to carry 200lb sacks of flour on their backs the 7 miles from Whangarei and Neil McPhee once carried a plough the same distance.

Fiercely independent, one of the settlers was heard to say “many of us have a great prejudice against paying money for anything we can produce ourselves.” The indomitable spirit of the Scots borne through a terrible history of suffering prepared them well for success in their new Antipodean home. From afar we look back and honour their faith, perseverance and community spirit.