The home of highland dancing
(Est 1849)
Situated on St Highway 3 with the main route to Marton and Bulls, Turakina - where 'Chequered skirts are fashionable, drawing its name from the Turakina River... meaning to be felled or thrown down. Hau, who gave so many names in the Rangitikei, Manawatu, and Horowhenua districts, named Turakina because he was able to cross the river using a tree that had fallen across from one bank to the other.
Turakina is the home of the Turakina Highland Games and a gateway to Koitiata, a quaint New Zealand beach settlement.