The Northland region (known as the “winterless“ North) has a rich and treasured history. It had, and still has, widespread Maori settlement. It was also where early Church Missions were located and in the 1830s Kororareka was a popular stop off for passing ship's crews, see Hell-hole of the Pacific by Richard Wolfe. Nearby Russell became the first capital of New Zealand in 1840.
Much has been written about the Northland Missions, and local Maori and Pakeha relations in the nineteenth century. There are also a number of official histories of particular counties and boroughs, Whangarei City and local schools, churches and sports clubs.
Many authors concentrate on the history of particular areas of Northland:
- Rayma Ritchie specialises on Kaikohe and the Bay of Islands
- Keith Parker on Kaitaia
- Nancy Pickmere on Kerikeri, the Bay of Islands and Whangarei
- the late Jack Lee on the Hokianga and Bay of Islands.
Others include the late Ruth Ross, Jean Irvine and Florence Keene.
Keene was the most prolific, covering both Whangarei and Kaitaia in particular and the whole of Northland, or Te Tai Tokerau, area and people in general.
Local iwi are Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa, Ngapuhi and Uri-O-Hau Ngati Whatua, and each have a number of books and other sources written about them.
There is no single authoritative history of the region. Nevertheless for a very useful Maori history try The changing times of Te Tirarau and the people of the river by Nancy Pickmere (2004).
There are a number of museums and public libraries in Northland, particularly at:
- Dargaville (Library and Maritime Museum)
- Kaeo (Library and Whangaroa County Museum and Archives)
- Kaitaia (Library and Far North Regional Museum)
- Kaikohe (Library and Pioneer Village)
- Kerikeri (Library and Mission Station)
- Mangungu (Mission Station)
- Matakohe (Kauri Museum)
- Omapere (Museum)
- Paihia (Library, Kelly Tarlton's Museum of Shipwrecks and the Waitangi Treaty House)
- Rawene (Library and Clendon House)
- Russell (Museum and Pompallier House)
- Waimate (Museum and Te Waimate Mission House)
- Whangarei (Library and Museum).
All have very useful historical materials.
The area is served by Kaipara District Council, Whangarei District Council and the Far North District Council. | 
