Whatatutu is a small settlement in the northeast of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

's North Island

North Island

The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...

. It is located north of Te Karaka

Te Karaka

Te Karaka is a small settlement inland from Gisborne, in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island. It is located in the valley of the Waipaoa River close to its junction with its tributary, the Waihora River...

 on the upper reaches of the Waipaoa River

Waipaoa River

The Waipaoa River is a river of the northeast of New Zealand's North Island. It rises on the eastern slopes of the Raukumara Range, flowing south for 80 kilometres to reach Poverty Bay and the Pacific Ocean just south of Gisborne. For about half of this distance its valley is followed by State...

, close to its meeting with its tributaries, the Mangatu

Mangatu River

The Mangatu River is a river of the Gisborne Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows south from its sources in rough hill country northeast of Matawai to reach the Waipaoa River at Whatatutu....

 and Waingaromia River

Waingaromia River

The Waingaromia River is a river of the Gisborne Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows generally southwest from its origins 25 kilometres west of Tolaga Bay to reach the Waipaoa River close to Whatatutu.-References:...

s.

Whatatutu is about 45 minutes from Gisborne

Gisborne, New Zealand

-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...

and is home to about 300 people. Oil-bearing rock has been known to exist in small quantities for many years, but not in commercial quantities. The search for more economically viable sources continues in the area.

Whatatutu hosts the 4x4 every two years, which all the members come and visit the township.