About us

Kawhia Harbour is where the Tainui Waka (canoe) came ashore in New Zealand. Aboard the Tainui waka was the Koratangi Bird. This bird is represented in the Sands of Kawhia Logo and is of significant value to the people of the Kawhia area.

Kawhia is the final resting place of Tainui Waka, after traversing the Pacific Ocean to Aotearoa to eventually settle in Kawhia some 800 years ago.

It is from Kawhia that Tainui descendants now occupy Waikato, Maniapoto (The King Country) Raukawa (Te Awamutu Westward to Putaruru, Tokoroa, and Hauraki (Coromandel Peninsula).

There are two main sub-tribes in the Kawhia area. There is Ngāti Māhuta and Ngāti HIkairo. The Sands of Kawhia Hotel is located on Ngāti Hikairo land, a sub-tribe of the Waikato people. Journey on to experience the amazing sites Kawhia has to offer, with activities and more just a click away.

The Sands of Kawhia Hotel

Sands of Kawhia is owned and operated by The Proprietors of Taharoa C Block, Taharoa Holdings, and managed by Taharoa Tourism.

This boutique hotel it is a significant commercial and historical investment.

Construction began in 2019, After COVID-related delays the Hotel was completed and opened in April 2023.

Taharoa Holdings Ltd

Taharoa Holdings Ltd is a 100% owned subsidiary, and manage the incorporations commercial portfolio, hotels, residential and commercial property development, commercial fisheries, equities and investments.

Established in 1972 at Taharoa on the southern side of Kawhia Harbour, by elders of local Maori Hapuu (Tainui waka subtribe) Ngati Mahuta. The incorporation began with the mining and exporting of Taharoa iron initially in conjunction with the NZ steel Ltd and BHP.

In 2017 the incorporation acquired the Taharoa Iron Sands operations.