Waihirere is a settlement and rural area in the Gisborne District of New Zealand's North Island. It is located 16 kilometres inland from the coastal city of Gisborne.
The settlement is a stronghold for kapa haka, and is where prominent performer Louise Kingi grew up and learned her skills from elders.[1]
The Rhythm and Vines music festival is located in nearby Waimata Valley.
Parihimanihi Marae and Te Poho o Māhaki meeting house is a meeting place of the hapū of Ngāi Tūketenui and Ngāti Wahia, from the iwi of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki.[2] [3]
Hangi Pants, a short film about a conflict at a tangi at the marae, was released in 2020.[4]
In October 2020, the Government committed $102,771 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Parihimanihi Marae, and create three jobs.[5]
Waiherere Domain is a public reserve owned and operated by Gisborne District Council, which features a playground, cycleway, dog walking area and picnic area, which is also used for jet skiing and kite surfing.[6]