Stone Store

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Stone Store

Historical Site

The Stone Store is the oldest undamaged stone building in New Zealand, located in Kerikeri in the Northland Region. Travellers come to see its early Georgian architecture, historic masonry and its setting beside other missionary-era sites.

Stone Store WhangāreiKaitaiaKerikeriPaihiaStone Store

Stone Store essentials

Address: Kerikeri, Northland Region, New Zealand

The Stone Store was built between 1832 and 1836 by the Church Missionary Society as a warehouse to a Georgian design by John Hobbs. It is a two-storey building constructed from local basalt with sandstone imported from Parramatta and Sydney, producing a distinctive colonial appearance.

Over the 19th century the building served many functions - a store for imported and local goods, a munitions store during conflict, and later uses including a post office and schoolroom - and was retained because of its solid construction. James Kemp oversaw the construction, which combined mission craftsmen with Māori labour for basic work.

Today the Stone Store is owned and conserved by the national heritage agency and managed as a heritage attraction, set close to the adjacent missionary buildings and gardens, including the nearby Mission House. Visiting gives a compact glimpse of early European-Māori contact, missionary life and colonial trade in the Bay of Islands area.

  • Georgian exterior and masonry: Examine the two-storey basalt and sandstone walls, window openings and simple Georgian proportions that make the building distinctive.
  • Interior historic rooms: Rooms and displays interpret the store’s original role as a warehouse and its changing uses through the 19th and 20th centuries.
  • Setting by the Mission House and gardens: The Stone Store sits close to the early timber Mission House and historic gardens, which together tell the story of the Kerikeri mission station.
  • Kerikeri Basin views: From the surrounding grounds you get views across the Kerikeri Basin and its parkland, framing the colonial buildings.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Stone Store#

Northland has a temperate, maritime climate with warm summers and cooler, wetter winters; choose the season that suits your tolerance for warmth or rain.

Summer (best for warmth)
December - February · 14°C - 24°C (57°F - 75°F)
Summers are warm and often the sunniest months, making it pleasant to explore outdoor historic sites and gardens, though it can be busier with visitors.
Autumn (mild and quieter)
March - May · 11°C - 22°C (52°F - 72°F)
Autumn brings mild weather and often clearer days after summer, a good time for quieter visits and comfortable walking around the Basin.
Winter (cooler and wetter)
June - August · 8°C - 16°C (46°F - 61°F)
Winters are cooler with the highest monthly rainfall, so expect some wet days but still mild temperatures compared with inland New Zealand.

Weather & Climate near Stone Store#

Climate

Stone Store's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in February) and cool winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 8°C to 24°C. Abundant rainfall (1420 mm/year), wettest in July.

Air Quality: AQI 23 Good
Best Time to Visit
JanuaryFebruaryMarch
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
28°
Warmest Month
6°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Very Good 15° - 23° 19° 94 mm partly cloudy 75% 4.8 m/s 2.5 extreme 14.1h
February Very Good 16° - 24° 20° 106 mm partly cloudy 75% 4.5 m/s 2.2 extreme 13.2h
March Very Good 15° - 23° 19° 127 mm partly cloudy 76% 4.9 m/s 1.6 very high 12.2h
April Good 13° - 20° 17° 92 mm partly cloudy 77% 4.9 m/s 1.0 moderate 11.1h
May Good 11° - 18° 14° 128 mm partly cloudy 79% 4.4 m/s 0.5 low 10.1h
June Good 9° - 16° 12° 155 mm partly cloudy 81% 4.1 m/s 0.3 low 9.6h
July Acceptable 8° - 15° 12° 160 mm partly cloudy 81% 4.5 m/s 0.3 low 9.9h
August Good 9° - 15° 12° 143 mm partly cloudy 81% 4.4 m/s 0.6 moderate 10.7h
September Acceptable 10° - 17° 13° 129 mm overcast 81% 5.0 m/s 0.9 moderate 11.7h
October Good 11° - 18° 14° 95 mm overcast 79% 5.3 m/s 1.5 high 12.9h
November Good 12° - 20° 16° 95 mm overcast 77% 5.5 m/s 2.0 very high 13.8h
December Good 14° - 22° 18° 96 mm overcast 76% 4.8 m/s 2.3 extreme 14.4h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Stone Store#

The Stone Store is in the centre of Kerikeri, a small town in the Bay of Islands area. The building is close to other mission-era sites and within easy reach of the town’s main roads.

Kerikeri has a regional airport (Bay of Islands / Kerikeri Airport) with flights to larger cities; the nearest major international airport is Auckland. From the town centre the Stone Store is walkable or a short taxi ride; check local services for buses or shuttles and allow time for parking if you drive.

Tips for Visiting Stone Store#

  • Check opening days and any guided-tour availability locally before you go, as access can vary.
  • Combine a visit with the adjacent Mission House and gardens to get the full mission-station context.
  • The site is compact but includes historic staircases and floors; if mobility is limited check access to upper areas beforehand.
  • Bring rain protection in winter months, as Northland can have wet spells even when mild.