Katikati

The small town of Katikati was built on land confiscated from local M?ori after the 1863 land wars and given to Irish Protestant settlers by the Central Government, the only planned Irish settlement anywhere. Long before the Irish arrived, M?ori had recognized the area's potential for growing food crops. These days, fruit growing—particularly kiwifruit and avocado—keeps the Katikati economy afloat, perhaps providing one (of many) explanations for Katikati's name, "to nibble" in M?ori. Katikati's most noticeable features are more than 50 murals around town, depicting its history. Another interesting attraction is the Haiku Pathway, a walking trail studded with haiku-etched boulders. The path starts on Katikati's Main Street and leads down to the river. Pick up a map of the route at Katikati Visitor Information.