Bay of Islands years ago, the Mataatua, one of the large Māori migration canoes which journeyed to New Zealand from Hawaiki, was sailed to the Bay of Islands (from the Bay of Plenty) by Puhi, a progenitor of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe) which today is the largest in the country. Māori settled and multiplied throughout the bay and on several of its many islands to establish various tribes such as the Ngāti Miru at Kerikeri. Many notable Māori were born in the Bay of Islands, including Hone Heke who several times cut down the flagpole at Kororāreka (Russell) to start the Flagstaff War.
Radio Bay of Plenty station, broadcasting throughout the Bay Of Plenty on 93.7 MHz and at Ohope Beach on 100.1 MHz, with an additional frequency in Wanaka in the South Island on 93.0 MHz. It also streams online.Its programming includes Bayrock Breakfast with LJ, a Bayrock Workday themed show, a drive show, the Bayrock Hard Show every evening, and a late night Killa Kiwi and Midnight Metal shows. The station was previously broadcast throughout the Bay of Plenty of 97.7 and in Ohope Beach on 99.3. In summer 1993/1994 1XX ran an album rock format station, Bayrock 97.7FM. Bayrock went on the air on