If you're passing through Pātea, stop in and visit the iconic Aotea Waka Memorial on the main street, commemorating one of the first great canoes in which Māori migrated to New Zealand.
The South Taranaki town of Pātea is the home of the award-winning Pātea Māori Club, whose 1980s hit Poi-E is still one of the country’s favourite songs. Pātea has a rich Māori and European history. A walk through the town will take you past many historic buildings and features, including the Aotea Memorial Waka, St George's Anglican Church, and Aotea Utanganui – Museum of South Taranaki. The museum is an important archive for the South Taranaki district. Pop into Gallery Pātea to quench your arts thirst. Nearby Carlyle Beach and Mana Bay are popular venues for fishing, surfing, and swimming.
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