Pikowai is a rural community located near the beach on the shoreline of the Eastern
Bay of Plenty in the
North Island
The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-largest ...
of
New Zealand. Pikowai is located 34 km southeast of
Te Puke and 10 kilometres northwest of
Matatā
Matatā is a town in the Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand, to the north-west of Whakatāne. Much of the town was relocated between the years 2006 and 2021 due to increased natural threats arising from climate change. As an ...
. It is said to be a place where the Mataatua Canoe made landfall on its journey along the coast from Tauranga. Known for its fishing, the beach itself is well used for surf casting.
The name of 'Pikowai' means literally ''piko'' = bend + ''wai'' = stream,
and well describes the ever-changing stream bed which leads fresh water down into the sea. This fresh water stream often forms a recreational ponding area where children can play.
References
Whakatane District
Populated places in the Bay of Plenty Region
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