Now and then, you come across the odd gem of a slogan that possesses a trifecta of wit, relevance and memorability. Others are often laughable, cringeworthy or just plain boring. Here is a list of New Zealand town slogans for places across the North Island.

Contents

1. Northland
2. Auckland
3. Waikato
4. Coromandel
5. Bay of Plenty
6. Manawatu & Whanganui
7. Hawke’s Bay
8. Taranaki
9. Wellington & the Wairarapa

1. Northland: Together We Thrive (well, until there’s a drought)

Dargaville (Takawiri): Heart of the Kauri Coast
Other: The Kumara Capital, Dags-ville
Known for: kumara farms, rural settlements, Ripiro Beach, Kauri trees, goats on the roadsides
– This New Zealand town slogan alludes to the famed Kauri forests in the region

Kaitaia: Where Journeys Begin
Known for: the gateway to 90-mile beach and the far north

Kerikeri: It’s So Nice They Named It Twice
Known for: Rainbow falls, nature walks, city amenities

Waipu: One Hundred Thousand Miles
Known for: Scottish heritage and annual Highland games, Waipu caves, waterfalls

Whangārei: Love It Here
Other: City of 100 Beaches, Beach City
Known for: sandy beaches, the National Clock Museum, Kiwi North, Whangārei Falls
– Whenever I think of Whangārei, I’m reminded of a friend who moved there recently and had her car stolen within the first month… twice. Love it here!

Kāeo: Small Town Big Spirit
Known for: farming, fruit, freshwater mussels

2. Auckland

Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau): City of Sails
Other: Big Little City, The Queen City
Known for: Sky tower, city living, ferries, yachts, Pohutukawa coastlines, terrible traffic, crowds

3. Waikato

Hamilton (Kirikiriroa): City of the Future
Other: More Than You Expect, The Tron
Known for: Hamilton Gardens, shopping, Waikato River, awarded the ‘most beautiful large city’

Matamata: Racing Ahead
Other: Hobbiton
Known for: the Hobbiton tourist attraction, a successful horse racing industry, rural life

Cambridge (Kemureti): The Home of Champions
Other: The Equine Capital of NZ, The Town of Trees & Champions
Known for: Thoroughbred horses & studs, agriculture, Avantidrome, a pleasant township

Otorohanga: New Zealand’s Kiwiana Capital
Known for: the Kiwi House & Native Bird Park, close proximity to Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Kiwiana displays

Taupō: Great Lake Taupō – Nature’s Ultimate Playground
Known for: trout, salmon and prawn fishing, water sports, spas, thermal springs, tourists

Te Awamutu: The Rose Town
Known for: stunning rose gardens, birthtown of the Finn Brothers, nature walks, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari

Tūrangi: Trout Fishing Capital of the World
Known for: Nature walks around Tongariro National Park, fly fishing, close to Tokaanu thermal springs
– This New Zealand town slogan is similar to that of Gore in the South Island

4. Coromandel: Good for the Soul

Thames (Tikapa): Our Heritage Gold
Known for: the gateway to the Coromandel Peninsula, historical buildings, bushland

5. Bay of Plenty

Tauranga: Simply Superb; Tempt me Tauranga
Known for: cheap avocados, kiwifruit, fresh produce, surfing, swimming

Rotorua: Tatou Tatou (together together)
Other: Sulphur city, Rotovegas, the Smelly-City
Known for: thermal springs, geysers, Te Urewera National Park, a rotten-egg smell

Paeroa: Antique town of New Zealand
Other: The Best Little Town in the Middle of Everywhere
Known for: L&P (Lemon and Paeroa), antique stores, Bullswool Heritage Farm
– Fairly accurate. The antique shops here ensnare punters for hours.

Ōpōtiki: Coast by Nature
Known for: Opo the dolphin (died in 1956), Māori carvings, a native plant collection, gangs

6. Manawatu & Whanganui

Taihape: Gumboot Capital of the World
Known for: The giant gumboot statue, Rangitīkei River, farmers, rural NZ
– In Taihape, gumboots are regularly worn, thrown in competitions, and laid to rest by the pub door.

Bulls: Unforgettabull
Known for: a life-size model of a black bull and innumera-bull puns. The toilet is the ‘relieve-a-bull,’ town hall the ‘social-a-bull,’ the Library is the ‘read-a-bull…’ The list goes on.


Palmerston North: Young Heart, Easy Living
Other: Palmy
Known for: cafes, Massey University campus, Victoria gardens, the Rugby Museum
– ‘Young heart’ comes from the large student population and ‘easy living’ is really just a catchphrase for life anywhere outside of Auckland.

Whanganui: All you need – and them some; The River City
Known for: arts & crafts, op-shops, seniors, Whanganui River, Whanganui National Park

Eketāhuna: Real Kiwi Country
Known for: Tararua Ranges, hunting, fishing, bushwalking, Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre

Dannevirke: Take a Liking to a Viking
Known for: Scandinavian Heritage, Fantasy Cave (temporarily closed as of Feb 2021)

Ohakune: Where Adventures Begin
Other: The Mountain Town, Carrot Capital of NZ
Known for: the ‘Big Carrot,’ hiking near Tongariro, ski fields

7. Hawke’s Bay

Napier: The Art Deco Capital of NZ
Known for: attractive houses & streets, cafes, Pania of the Reef, Art Deco Festival

Wairoa: The Way New Zealand Used to Be
Known for: close proximity to Te Urewera National Park & Lake Waikaremoana, thermal springs, gangs
– Not to be confused with Te Wairoa, a village that was buried by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera.

Hastings: Great Things Grow Here
Other: NZ’s fruit bowl, Tastes fine sunshine, Take a fresh look.
Known for: city amenities, agriculture, wineries and cellar-doors

8. Taranaki: Like No Other

Manaia: Bread Capital of New Zealand
Known for: Yarrows Bakery, the ‘Big Loaf,’ Hollard Gardens, Mount Egmont National Park, Country Music Hall of Fame

New Plymouth: A City Like No Other
Known for: art galleries, oil rigs, parks, Mount Taranaki

9. Wellington & Wairarapa

Featherston (Paetūmōkai): If you lived here, you’d be home now
Known for: historical buildings and lighthouse, Palliser Bay, cycle trails

Wellington (Te Whanganui a Tara): Absolutely Positively Wellington
Other: Windy Wellington, The Windy City, Wellywood
Known for: hipsters & coffee, shopping, filmmaking, Weta Workshop, Zealandia, House of Parliament (the Beehive), the cable car, Botanic Gardens

Porirua: Mo Te Katoa Nga mahi (All That is Done is For the Benefit of All)
Other: the unfortunate slogan, ‘P-town’
Known for: estuaries, walkways, the Adrenalin Forest

Hut Valley (Te Awa Kairangi): Love the Hutt
Other: Right up my Hutt Valley [cringe]
Known for: The Hutt River, Staglands Wildlife Reserve

Read More about New Zealand town slogans

>> New Zealand town slogans of the South Island

Travelling around NZ? You might want to check out these:

• 5 Interesting facts you might not know about Stewart Island/Rakiura
• Awesome things to do near Taihape