Waipu, New Zealand

From Rachael Haylett

An hour or so north of Auckland, in New Zealand's North Island, is the town of Waipu, which Ben and I discovered has a very Scottish History.

We were headed north on our little trip around Northland, when on a sunny afternoon we stopped for a break in Waipu.

Waipu was settled by about 940 Scots in 1853. They had travelled there from Nova Scotia, which had become their home for three decades before they followed Reverend Norman McLeod to this sub-tropical climate. They built their own boats and adventured into stormy seas in search for a better, and certainly a warmer, life. When they settled in Waipu, they worked hard in agriculture, gumdigging and bush felling. Some also continued in the shipbuilding industry.

Today, about 10% of Waipu's population has Scottish decent. Yet the town is very proud of its history, with monuments and a lovely museum. Furthermore, many of the street names use Scottish places, such as "Braemar Lane", and the tourist industry benefits from places such as "The Clansman Motel." It also hosts a Highland Games every summer, on the 1st January. No distance away is Waipu Cove, which has a beautiful sandy beach for the population to enjoy, whether it be through walking, swimming or surfing.

Today, Waipu has a three-way twinning with St Ann's/Baddeck in Nova Scotia, and Clachtoll in Scotland.