Guide

Heritage, Culture & Arts

Marlborough’s rich history runs wide and deep, from the earliest Polynesian settlers on Te Pokohiwi-o-Kupe/Wairau, Bar to the European pioneers who built towns and planted our first grapevines.

These people, the way they lived, and how they dealt with history’s major events has shaped Marlborough into what it is today.

Those stories are all here, waiting to be discovered all over again in the places where they happened or in our galleries, museums, art and theatre productions.

Aviation

Marlborough has been at the centre of important historical aviation events on many occasions, on both a national and international scale. That legacy continues strongly today, with the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre at its heart.

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Historic Sites

Much of Marlborough’s history has been preserved, or restored, exactly where events happened. From Meretoto/Ship Cove, the site of Captain James Cook’s frequent Marlborough visits and first encounters between Māori and Europeans, to the remains of the Perano Whaling Station, the wooden immigrant ship Edwin Fox and the ancient fortified pā of Te Rae o Karaka/Karaka Point, you can learn more about, and visit, these historic sites.

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Maritime

With almost 4,000km² of coastline in the Marlborough Sounds alone, our region has played an integral role in Aotearoa/New Zealand’s maritime history. From the earliest known Māori settlers to arrive on our shores to a thriving whaling industry, and the many ships that wrecked along our rugged coastline, there are countless tales from the sea.

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Our Land

Long before Marlborough’s world famous wine industry took hold, the land provided for its people in many ways. Read how early Māori thrived around the plentiful riches of the Wairau Lagoons, how flax was turned into money and how Te Waiharakeke/Blenheim received its first nickname, Beavertown.

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Our People

Did you know the man who split the nuclear atom was schooled in Motuweka/Havelock? Woven throughout our history are many intriguing stories of those who lived in times gone by and created Marlborough as we know it today.

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Our Stories

Underpinning our nation’s early beginnings are the ancient stories, legends and myths passed down through generations of Māori. Here is a selection of the legends that describe how Marlborough came to be.

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Our Towns

From Rai Valley to Ward, each Marlborough settlement had its own fascinating and unique beginnings. Learn about the heritage of our villages and towns.

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Culture

Mt Tapuae-o-Uenuku, New Zealand's largest peak outside the Southern Alps, is the sacred mountain of local Marlborough Maori iwi and a visible symbol of the rich tapestry of Marlborough's culture. The annual Marlborough Book Festival forms one of these vibrant threads.

Discover Marlborough's culture
Arts

Marlborough is home to a host of artisans, public art, galleries, musicians and theatre performances. Join the Marlborough Arts and Crafts Trail, check out the Artisan Market on Saturdays, and watch local performances.

Marlborough's Arts guide

Beryl Bowers Events Coordinator

"I am so lucky to live here with the mountains and the bush clad hills reaching the sea. The beauty of this region is amazing and nowhere else in the world have I seen such stunning scenery."

My insider guide to Marlborough

Te Pākeka/Maud Island Heritage

Te Hoiere/Pelorus Sound scientific reserve and predator-free wildlife sanctuary, Te Pākeka/Maud Island, had many uses before it became a haven for native species.

The island was originally occupied by Māori, who cultivated extensive gardens and built food storage pits – the name Pākeka eludes to this.

In 1867, ownership of the island was granted to European farmer John Gibson by the Crown, and a large area of forest was cleared for pasture.

Military installations were built on Te Pākeka/Maud Island during World War 2, including a gun emplacement and range finding equipment, which remain today. A road and jetty to service the island’s equipment was built at the same time.

A single kākāpo (native parrot) was the reason Te Pākeka/Maud Island became a wildlife refuge in 1974. The island’s owner, Jack Shand, agreed to let what was believed to be the last kākāpo from Fiordland live on the island and it became known as the first safe haven for the parrots. Kākāpo numbers on the island reached 18 in 2000 before they were moved to other islands.

Shand gifted some of the island to the Crown in 1971 and later offered it for sale. Royal Forest and Bird Protection secured it after a public fundraising campaign.

Te Pākeka/Maud Island is today home to a number of rare and endemic species including frogs, lizards and birds. It is open only by arrangement with the Department of Conservation, which has rangers based on the island and holds public trips in summer via local tour guides.