Around Hikurangi
Hikurangi began as a timber milling town in the 1860’s. European settlers lived among the dense bush of rimu, totara and other mature trees. When a road was constructed to Whangarei in 1874, a sawmill was established and timber was able to be taken to Whangarei for further transportation.
Coal was discovered in 1863 while men were digging for gum.