Māngungu, Hokianga

A DigitalNZ Story by Sandi Faulconbridge

A brief illustrated story by Sandi

Māngungu, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Treaty of Waitangi, Hokianga, Wesleyan

A rich and diverse history

Māngungu is a little-known (to non-Northlanders) place of rich New Zealand history.

A Wesleyan Mission Station was established in Māngungu in 1828. The Georgian-style homestead was built for the Reverend Nathaniel Turner in 1838-1839, and then occupied by the Reverend John Hobbs and his family from 1840.

In 1840, on February 12, Māngungu was the site of the largest signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi). Over 70 Rangatira placed their Tohu on the Waitangi sheet. This event is remembered each year, and in 2020 I had the privelege of attending the 180th Anniversary Commemoration.

Information sourced from https://www.heritage.org.nz/places/places-to-visit/northland-region/mangungu-mission

Artist unknown :Mangungu mission station [1850s]

Alexander Turnbull Library

[Taylor, Richard], 1805-1873 :Mangungu; the Wesleyan station at Hokianga. Mangungu Harbour. [1840 or 1841].

Alexander Turnbull Library

Mangungu, Hokianga

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Mangungu, Hokianga

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Mangungu Mission House, Hokianga

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Sketch of buildings on Mangungu Station.

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

On the move

The Mission House has not always remained at Māngungu. In 1855 when the Reverend John Hobbs and his family moved to Auckland, the house followed to Onehunga where it was a Methodist parsonage before being sold.

In the 1970's the Mission house was returned to Māngungu, restored on behalf of Heritage New Zealand, and visitors were able to enjoy the rich and diverse history from 1977.