Whangarei - Wikipedia. Whangarei (/ ˌ f ɒ ŋ ə ˈ r eɪ /, or / ˌ w ɒ ŋ ə ˈ r eɪ /; Māori: [faŋaˈɾɛi]) is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region.It is part of the Whangarei District, a local body created in 1989 to administer both the city proper and its hinterland, from the former Whangarei City, Whangarei .