Kaikohe is the centre of an area known by local Maori as Te Whare Tapu o Ngapuhi (the Sacred House of Ngapuhi). The township itself was originally a Maori village with various names that are now the land block names for this area, such as Taraire, Opango, Marino, Kohewhata, Omapere, Rangihama etc. Ngapuhi was and still is the resident tribe, however in the 18th century this village was raided by a rival tribe. The people who survived had hid among the Kohekohe groves on Tokareirea (Kaikohe Hill) and it was after this event the people renamed the village Kaikohekohe (Kai means to eat and kohekohe was the kohekohe berries that gave them sustenance) later the name was shortened to Kaikohe. Primary hapu of Kaikohe are Te Uri o Hua, Takatoke, Ngati Kura, Ngati Tautahi,
Ngati Whakaeke, Ngai Tawake, Matarahurahu.

This is a diverse community of many cultures however the prevailing cultures are Maori or of Maori descent at 62.6% linking back to specific tribal grouping and local Marae, 30.2% European with the first pioneers coming through this area back in the early 19th century. Other ethnicities 7.2%, Pacific People 5.7% and Asian 1.5%.