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Story: Hawaiki

Cape Rēinga

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Cape Rēinga

Cape Rēinga, known to Māori as Te Rerenga Wairua (the leaping place of the spirits), is a windswept promontory in the far north-west of the North Island. It is believed to be the place where the spirits of the dead gather to depart for the homeland of Hawaiki.

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How to cite this page

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, Hawaiki – The significance of Hawaiki, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/3801/cape-reinga (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 April 2015.

Comments

Helen
11 November 2010
This is possibly my favourite place in the world.