Tea & Talk: Pioneers of the Mahurangi River

Dive into the captivating history of the early European settlers along the enchanting Mahurangi River!  Join us for an unforgettable journey as we uncover intriguing tales, like the mystery behind Hamilton’s Landing. Nestled beneath the headland amidst the mangroves lies a peculiar sight – a lengthy path of dry land adorned with pipi shells, believed to have been carried by a tidal wave ages ago. Stretching about 500 meters towards Dawson’s Creek, this unique formation holds secrets dating back to the 1880s, when Jim Sink, a valiant Crimean war veteran, called it home. Living in a modest shanty, he eked out a living by harvesting firewood from the land. Furthermore, this very shell bank played a pivotal role in supplying shell for the local cement works during its early days, contributing to the production of cement.