Pātea is home to the outstanding Pātea Maori Club and its 1982 chart topping single “Poi-E”.
Pātea has a rich Māori and European history which is well documented in the South Taranaki District Museum (Aotea Utanganui) on the main street. A replica of the Aotea canoe commemorates the settlement of Taranaki by Turi and his hapu, who travelled from Hawaiiki to Kawhia and then overland to Pātea.
Today, Pātea retains a strong community focus and the nearby Pātea Beach is popular for fishing, boating, surfing and camping. Visitors will enjoy the beautiful, rugged scenery of the South Taranaki coast.
