▁New ▁Zealand ▁Ministry ▁for ▁Culture ▁and ▁Heritage ▁gives ▁a ▁translation ▁of ▁" place ▁of ▁the ▁flower " ▁for ▁ Ō p ua . ▁ ▁The ▁Wa im ang aro ▁area ▁north - west ▁of ▁Op ua ▁is ▁listed ▁on ▁the ▁Ng ā pu hi ▁and ▁Te ▁P uni ▁K ō ki ri ▁websites ▁as ▁a ▁traditional ▁meeting ▁point ▁of ▁the ▁Ng ā pu hi ▁ha p ū ▁of ▁Te ▁Uri ▁O ng a ong a . ▁ ▁Port ▁of ▁entry ▁Op ua ▁is ▁New ▁Zealand ' s ▁northern most ▁port ▁of ▁entry ▁for ▁over se as ▁vessels , ▁and ▁a ▁Custom s ▁and ▁Ministry ▁for ▁Primary ▁Indust ries ▁Place ▁of ▁First ▁Ar rival . ▁It ▁is ▁a ▁popular ▁destination ▁for ▁cru ising ▁y ach ts ▁ow ing ▁to ▁its ▁shelter ed , ▁deep ▁water ▁anch orage , ▁and ▁numerous ▁facilities ▁for ▁cru is ers , ▁including ▁the ▁ 2 5 0 - ber th ▁Op ua ▁Marina , ▁Ash by ' s ▁Bo aty ard ▁and ▁Op ua ▁Cru ising ▁Club . ▁ ▁Railway ▁The ▁Op ua ▁Branch , ▁a ▁branch ▁line ▁railway ▁sometimes ▁considered ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁North ▁A uck land ▁Line , ▁formerly ▁served ▁the ▁town . ▁ ▁The ▁first ▁railway ▁link , ▁from ▁Op ua ▁to ▁K aw ak awa , ▁opened ▁on ▁ 7 ▁April ▁ 1 8 8 4 . ▁ ▁When ▁the ▁North ▁A uck land ▁Line ▁was ▁completed ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 5 , ▁a ▁thr ice ▁week ly ▁passenger ▁express ▁train ▁called ▁the ▁North