New Plymouth
New Plymouth is known for its art galleries, beautiful landscapes and sunny climate. It is situated on the west coast of the North Island, beside the magnificent Mount Taranaki which provides a dramatic backdrop to the city. There is a lot of history in the New Plymouth area as it not only was occupied for hundreds of years by Māori, but was the first Pākehā settlement in New Zealand. A decade of conflict in the area during the 1860s led to the invasion by British troops of a non-violent resistance settlement named Parihaka. This is a very significant event for New Zealanders and is remembered on 5 November every year. The New Plymouth region is well worth a drive around to get a sense of the natural beauty and history of Taranaki.