Tradtionally Whangaruru Harbour is a resting place for sea travelers between the Bay of Islands and Whangarei - and between the Ngatiwai populations on the offshore islands.� The area is particularly significant for Ngatiwai as tangata whenua.� Puhimoanariki, the first ancestor, named the place Whangaruru while sailing up the coast. after whanga (to wait) and ruru (to shelter).
By 1821 Whangaruru was significant to Europeans as well, with bush workings there providing kauri spars to ships of the Royal Navy.� Over time the area was systematically logged and then greatly expanded to supply wood for building European settlements around the Pacific.� By 1900 when the bush resources had been worked out, the harbour became the collection point for logs felled further inland.� From Whangaruru huge log booms were towed down the coast to the bimber mills in Auckland, or loaded on ships to service the building developments in Sydney and San Francisco.