Whangara (Māori: Whāngārā [faː.ŋaː.ɾaː]) is a small community in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island,[1] located between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay, five kilometres southwest of Gable End Foreland and two kilometres east of State Highway 35.

The settlement features prominently in the early history of the Ngāti Porou iwi,[2] as the site where Tamatea, captain of the Tākitimu canoe settled on arriving in New Zealand.

Canoe races were held at nearby Pikopiko-i-whiti, with the people watching from a hill called Puke-hapopo.

[3] Whangara was the location and setting for Witi Ihimaera's novel The Whale Rider and its film adaptation.

[9] In October 2020, the Government committed $49,626 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, creating an estimated 3.4 jobs.