“The leaping-off place of spirits” is another name for Cape Reinga. But here at Wairua Point, we connect with that same spiritual essence. This place whispers tales of journeys, both physical and metaphysical. Wairua Point invites contemplation.
I am excited to share its story with you. Wairua Point offers stunning views and a connection to Māori mythology. This point is a place where spirits begin their final journey.
According to Māori tradition, after death, spirits travel north. They journey to the tip of the North Island. This is where they enter the afterlife. The spirits slide down the roots of an ancient pohutukawa tree. This tree clings to the rocky cliffs at Te Rerenga Wairua. Then they enter the sea.
From there, the spirit briefly emerges on a group of offshore islands. Here, they take one last look back at the land. They bid farewell before continuing their journey to Hawaiki. Hawaiki is the ancestral homeland of the Polynesian people. They originally inhabited New Zealand.
Cape Reinga is also where two oceans meet. The Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean clash here. This creates a dramatic convergence of waves.
Captain Cook and a French explorer, Jean François Marie de Surville, sighted the North Island coast within days of each other in 1769. They unknowingly passed within 40 km of each other. This is amazing. They were the only Europeans in the vast Pacific Ocean at that time.
The Cape Reinga lighthouse started service in 1941. It was the last lighthouse with a keeper to be built in New Zealand. In 1987, the last lighthouse keeper was withdrawn. Now, the lighthouse is managed remotely from Wellington.
The Three Kings Islands are 34 miles northwest of Cape Reinga. The Māori call them Manawatawhi. These uninhabited islands can be seen on a clear day. Spirits emerge here for one last look at New Zealand.
Abel Tasman named these islands the Three Kings Islands in 1643. He named them in honor of the Feast of the Epiphany. This celebrates the Three Wise Men visiting baby Jesus.
It is interesting to know that Cape Reinga isn’t the northernmost point of the North Island. North Cape’s Surville Cliffs are slightly farther north. They are 30 km east of Cape Reinga.
Here at Wairua Point, take a moment. Consider the journey of the spirits. Think about your own journey. Reflect on your victories and defeats. Remember the beautiful places you have seen. Cherish the love and joy in your life. As you stand here at Wairua Point, feel the connection to the past. Embrace the possibilities of the future.