Destinations

Heather Whelan explores an area that’s as well known for its Maori history as its Scandinavian. It’s also well-known for having a place name that’s as long as its rivers and winding roads.
We rolled out of Gisborne towards Wairoa just as great dollops of rain began to cover the windscreen. Despite the washout to follow, our course was set, not down the usual route, but through Tiniroto along the old stock route referred to locally as the ‘inland’ road.