Raglan

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This article is about the New Zealand town of Raglan. For other uses of the term, see Raglan (disambiguation).

Raglan is a seaside town and surrounding district associated with Whaingaroa Harbour (also known as Raglan Harbour) on the west coast of the Waikato region in New Zealand's North Island.

The harbour runs about 12km inland from the entrance and for the most part is less than 2km wide, and is the northernmost of three large inlets in the Waikato coast.

The town is on the southern side of the harbour entrance, 48km west of Hamilton, and has a population of 3,100 (census 2001). Raglan is nestled under the mountain of Mt Karioi. Māori legend has it the Karioi was a jilted Māori Princess whom, upon discovering that love was lost, lay down and rests until this day.

Eight kilometres from the Raglan township is Manu Bay, which features what is claimed to be longest, most accessible and consistent left-hand surf break in the southern hemisphere. On a good day a surfer can ride the wave for a distance of two kilometres. Manu Bay was featured in the movie The Endless Summer.

The town was named after Fitzroy Somerset, 1st Lord Raglan, who was the commander of British forces in the Crimean War at the time the township was settled in 1855.

The reggae band Cornerstone Roots was formed in Raglan.