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View details about completed Horowhenua District Council...
- Growth
Horowhenua is growing faster than predicted and this is...
- Land Development
The Subdivision and Development Principles and Requirements...
- Taraika
Taraika. Taraika is a 420 hectare block of land that has...
- Foxton Futures
Foxton — Welcoming by nature. The projects and plans are...
- The Future of Levin Landfill
On Tuesday 21 November 2023 there was a Presentation on the...
- What we're working on
Levin stormwater treatment and disposal – both Lake...
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Who we are. Demographic Information about the people of...
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Horowhenua District is a territorial authority district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand, administered by Horowhenua District Council.
Huraina tō mata. 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.
Whether you want to enjoy the taste of Horowhenua at a local eatery, stroll along our beautiful beaches, catch a game at one of our sportgrounds or escape in nature on one of our walking and cycling trails. there are so many things to see and do in Horowhenua. Visit horowhenuanz.co.nz to learn more. Horowhenua Visitor Guide (PDF, 4MB)
- Boundaries
- Main Centres
- Landscape Features
- Māori History
- 1840S–1900S: European Settlers
- 1900–1940S: Farming Boom
- Changes and Challenges
The Manawatū–Horowhenua region lies between the North Island’s main mountain range and the west coast. It stretches south from the Rangitīkei River to the Kāpiti district. Manawatū is the northern part and Horowhenua the southern part.
Manawatū’s main centres are Palmerston North and Feilding. Horowhenua’s main centres are Levin and Foxton.
The main mountains are the Tararua and Ruahine ranges. The Manawatū River cuts a spectacular deep gorge between these ranges. It has also formed plains, which were once swamps covered in flax and other native plants. The river sometimes floods, causing massive damage – most recently in 2004. Sand dunes, some horseshoe-shaped and over 30 metres high...
The Rangitāne and Mūaupoko people of this region lived along the coast, near rivers and by lakes. In the 1820s the Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Raukawa tribes attacked from the north. The local people suffered badly, but the Ngāti Raukawa chief, Te Whatanui, shared land with other tribes and helped to make peace.
Europeans first lived mainly along the coast. Foxton was the only town in the region. After 1870, more Europeans arrived. Scandinavians and other pioneers cleared the inland forests for farmland. Many worked at sawmills, on roads or railways, or were ‘flaxies’, making fibre from flax.
When the flax trade ended, sheep and dairy farms made Manawatū rich. Palmerston North became a city, and Levin and Feilding grew. Massey Agricultural College opened in 1928, and several scientific research centres were set up.
The region grew more slowly from the 1970s. But with Massey University and other learning centres, it has become important for education and research. It also has bases for New Zealand’s army and air force. From its mountain tops, wind farms produce enough power to supply 70,000 homes – more than any other New Zealand region.
The Horowhenua District offers a stunning natural environment on the lower west coast of the North Island, where the mountains meet the sea. Kilometres of unspoilt beaches, forest walks and a hinterland that is rich in both Maori and European history.
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Aug 23, 2018 · The Horowhenua district offers sandy beaches, Dutch food, easy access to the Tararua Ranges, local produce and fascinating history.
