The missionaries who established the settlement of Kerikeri initially called it Gloucester Town, this name however did not see continued use.

[7] In 1814, Samuel Marsden acquired land at Kerikeri from Hongi Hika for the use of the Church Missionary Society for a payment of forty-eight axes.

[7] The protector of the Kerikeri mission station was the chief, Ruatara, a nephew of Hongi Hika.

[7] The mission closed in 1848 due to a declining Mãori population and increasing obsolesce of the settlement in favour of Russell.

Historically it is known Ngāi Tawake defended the pā as their outlet to the sea in the 1770s and it was the launch place Hongi Hika used in the 1820s for raids on other tribes.

[22] St James', the wooden church on the hill above the Stone Store, is the third built in the area, and second on this picturesque site overlooking the basin.

In 1968 a damaging tornado hit Kerikeri with enough force to skew St James' off line.

The church bell came from HMNZS Black Prince, a light cruiser which had served with the Royal New Zealand Navy.

The keystone above the door bearing the date 1833 is thought to have been carved by the stonemason William Parrott who cut the Sydney sandstone in situ, but construction of the building was not actually completed until mid-1836.

Stone was used because the missionaries needed a vermin-free, fireproof area for their supplies and provisions, and for improved security from inquisitive Māori.

There was a plan to build a mill where the bridge exists now, and to protect the flour produced from locally grown wheat in the store.

Over the years, the Stone Store suffered the cumulative effects of adjacent traffic movements and the ravages of normal wear and tear.

Costly remedial work was required and in the 21st century a bypass was constructed and opened on 23 June 2008, to divert traffic and protect the building for posterity.

The reasons for removal of the original bridge are controversial, and there was a groundswell of protest from a number of local residents.

Rewa's Village was built in the 1970s to fundraise for legal services to stop a housing subdivision in the Kerikeri basin area.

[31] Bay of Islands International Academy is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 69.

It is served by Air New Zealand flights from Auckland and has a steadily increasing patronage, handling a record 110,000 passengers in financial 2017/2018.

A new $4.75 million terminal opened on 16 June 2019 with improved arrivals/departures, baggage screening and luggage collection facilities.