Places of the Coromandel Peninsula

Transcription

1 Appendix b) Places of the Coromandel Peninsula The name of every place and landscape feature in the Peninsula carries embodies historical knowledge and heritage values. This list is by no means exhaustive. Future additions are welcomed and encouraged. Alderman Islands - The islands were named 'the Court of Aldermen' by Captain Cook and his crew on 3 November 1769 after they has previously named Mayor Island. The Alderman group consists of four main islands: Hongiora, Middle, Ruamahuanui, and Ruamahuaiti, which are the remnants of a volcanic cone. The islands are a forested nature reserve hosting rare species including the tuatara. Access is by permit only. Amodeo Bay - Named for Frank Amodeo, a captain with the Northern Steamship Company, who rendered assistance to the McCall family there in Buffalo Beach site of the shipwreck of the HMS Buffalo, which sank on 28 July 1840 with the loss of two lives. Cabbage Bay see Colville Castle Rock aka Ngutu-tu ( upthrust lips ); a burial place of chiefs. Its descriptive English name is based on the rock s fortified appearance. Colville - Colville village was named after the cape, which itself was named by Captain James Cook on 18 November 1769, after Rear Admiral Lord Colville, who Cook served under in the Royal Navy. Colville was also known as Cabbage Bay, thought to be in reference to the cabbage trees in the bay. Aka Te Umangawha-o-nga-waka ( four canoe anchorages ) is the site of an ancient stone fishing trap and a WWI defensive rock wall at Te Whau Point. A Ngati Tamatera meeting house was erected here after the iwi s return from exile in It was later moved to Waiaroa in c.1838 and then to Paeroa in Cook s Beach named for Captain Cook, in honour of his place of observation of the transit of Mercury on 9 November Coroglen aka Gumtown. Coroglen residents voted in 1921 to change the name of their village in honour of a well-known racehorse of the day. Gumtown was named after the local industry in the 19 th century. Coromandel harbour, town and district was named for HMS Coromandel. aka Kapanga Cathedral Cove descriptive of the feeling evoked by the natural landscape features of the area. Dancing Camp a miners camp in the Kauaeranga Valley so named because it hosted camp dances. Grahamstown today part of Thames, named for Auckland Superintendent, Robert Graham. Harataunga - see Kennedy Bay Hastings former name of Tapu (see below), presumably named for Hastings in England. Hikuai water tail. A Ngati Hei tribal area, previously called Pukiore describing long mounds of kumara plantations, also ridged trails built to trap kiore. Hikutaia tail of the taia [eel] or headwaters of a river at neap tide. Humbug Bay - unknown 140

2 Hot Water Beach aka Te Puia, welling up of hot water. The Ngati Hei pa Te Puia was attacked here in Kaokao-tu-noa a kainga (settlement) 4 km north of Whitianga. Meaning the rib bones protruding at random. The name refers to the fate of the Ngati Hei people killed following the siege of Wharekaho pa by Tu-te-rangi-anini in The dead were left to rot on the beach and their bones were covered by sand over the years, until only the rib bones were protruding. The area is thus tapu. The bones were reburied c.1890 in an area nearby. Kauaeranga stacked row of jaw bones ; also the name of a pa and kainga. The name has been overlaid by different meanings over time. Originally referred to a stranding of whales Te Kauae-ranga, but also a reference to jaw bones laid out after a battle between Ngati Huarere and Marutuahu. There was a very large pa here at the mouth of the Wai-whakauranga River on which stands present-day Thames. The area was named Shortland in 1867 and transliterated as Hotereni by Hauraki Maori. Today it is the tribal area of Marutuahu, whose burial grounds lie beneath many buildings in the township. Kennedy Bay also Harataunga. In 1852 the Ngāti Tamaterā chief Pāora Te Putu presented the land to the Ngāti Porou people of the East Coast. Its English name comes from John Kennedy, a sailor who married a local Maori woman and settled there in 19 th century. Kikowhakarere Bay the abandoned flesh of the slain. Site of battles between Marutuahu and Ngati Huarere, the latter in the company of Ngati Hei. Kopu a reference to either the planet Venus and/or swampy wetland pockets or bellies, in which lurked many taniwha. Kuaotunu where the whale calf was roasted ; probably named for a specific whale stranding and harvesting. Little Bay descriptive of landscape. Mackaytown named for James Mackay, govt agent and Thames Goldfield Warden. Manaia a raft. A kainga south of Coromandel. A raft was crafted by Kahumatamomoe and his followers to cross the estuary. It may also be named for Ngati Huarere chief Manaia who is said to have lived there. In the early 20 th century the settlement was renamed Ahimia (ritual incantation using fire) to avoid confusion with Manaia in Taranaki but name not generally adopted. Mare s Leg Bay descriptive of a natural feature destroyed by storm in Matapaua Bay aka Pey s Bay, which was named for early settler farming family original homestead is now a bach belonging to Oliver family. Matarangi eye of the sky. Matatoki a small adze, a meteorite. Named for flakes of hard rock made into adzes by Waiapu in pursuit of the taniwha Kopuku. Mercury Bay named by Cook in reference to his observation of the transit of Mercury on what became Cook s Beach. Known by Maori as Te Whanganui o Hei the great bay of Hei. Mercury Islands popularly known as the Mercs. Named for transit of Venus observation by Cook Moehau shortened from Te Moengahau-o-Tamatekapua (the windy sleeping place of Tamatekapua). Name of a Coromandel mountain and mountain range; name also given to the district encompassed by sea and the Waihou River. 141

3 Nevesville Named for John Neves, discoverer of a goldfield midway between Hikuai and Matatoki. Also spelled as Neavesville. The intention to change the name from Neavesvile to Nevesville was published by the Geographic Board in 2004, but in the end it remained unchanged. Ngarimu Bay named for Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu (Ngati Porou) who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for bravery in Tunisia on 26 March Oamaru Bay aka Te O-a-Marutuahu, the wonder of Marutuahu. The bay was named by Marutuahu on his arrival in the area and is in Ngati Tamatera s rohe. Onemana a sand beach of much prestige Opito Bay placed at extreme end ; joining up of navels. It is said that a local rangitira had two wives who were pregnant at the same time and when his children were born he tied babies umbilical cords together to symbolise joining the two parts of his family together. Opotonga ghost town Opoutere place where the sea-waters swiftly empty out. Descriptive of the locale. Papa Aroha site of a kainga called the beloved land. Parawai finely woven flax cloak or river sediment and silt. Site of a Maori kainga. Name possibly meaning a flood-prone area having a decorative appearance after flooding has covered land with debris. Pauanui place with abundant paua. Port Charles named by Captain Cook. aka Te Tangi-aronui-o-Kahumatamomoe, the pensive sobs of Kahumatamomoe. After burying his father Tamatekapua, Kahumatamomoe looked back and cried on his return trip to Rotorua. Port Jackson named by Captain Cook. Puriri native hardwood tree. The Ngati Hako pa at Puriri was lost after Marutuahu invasion The Maori church on the edge of Herewaka Stream is a remnant of the area s Maori history. Sandy Bay descriptive of locale. Shortland and Grahamstown original European names for Thames, former named for Commander Willoughby Shortland RN ( ) who was Colonial Secretary (1841-2) under Governor Hobson, and then Colonial Administrator from Hobson s death to the arrival of Governor FitzRoy in He was later Governor of Tobago. Shortland was founded on 27 July 1867 by James Mackay, Grahamstown in the following year. The two settlements were merged in See also Grahamstown entry above. Table Mountain Te Kohatu-whakairi-a-Ngatoroirangi; up-raise rock of Ngatoroirangi. Ngatoroirangi was the priestly navigator on the Te Arawa waka, said to have raised a rock in the ranges to signal his arrival. English name deriving from its flat-top physical shape. Tairua double tides. Named for the tides on the east and west coasts seen by Te Arawa chief Kahumatamomoe standing on the Coromandel mountain range. Tapu sacred. Previously called Waipatukahu after the local river. The place became tapu after the slaughter of Ngati Tamatera by Ngati Hei and Ngai Te Rangi in c English name Hastings did not persist, evidently due to confusion with the Hawkes Bay town of the same name. 142

4 Tararu shortened from Te Tararu-o-Hinetekakara and meaning the exposed pubic hair of the lady of intoxicating fragrance. A hill overlooking the township was the source of sandstone to make implements and its visual similarity to his daughter s pubic hair was reputedly observed by Te Arawa chief Kahumatamomoe. Tehoho a pa in the vicinity of Whenuakite. There is a story of a wharenui being bought from Maori at the pa for 16 and floated up the Whenuakite River for use as farm barn. Te Kouma protective breastplate woven from flax. aka Tiko-uma, meaning chest splattered with excrement. Reportedly named after an incident in which Te Kahumatamomoe farted excrement on the man standing behind him and as it hardened it took on the appearance of a breast plate. Te Mata heaped layer of shells. The pa here was named Te Rauwhitiora after an area chief who fell and drowned when on the rocks collecting mussels. In modern times it has been known as the Mexican Sombrero after its resemblance to a hat. Te Puru the plug or blockage ; path of stream changed by landslide or blockage. Formerly Te Aputa, wide open flat land, an area of extensive cultivation by Ngati Tamatera. Te Rerenga flight of the fugitives. Ngati Piri sought refuge at the pa east of present settlement after fleeing Harataunga. Te Rara-o-te-ike-a-Maui - the jagged barb of Maui s fish, was the name give to Coromandel Peninsula arising out of traditional story of Maui catching the stingray that is the North Island. Thames Firth of named by Captain Cook after the English river of the same name. Township named for the Firth and the river. The latter soon reverted to its Maori name, Waihou (see below). Tokatea white blazed rock. Named for the local quartz and a landmark on the homeward journey of Kahumatamomoe. Tuateawa place beyond the river, a Ngati Porou tribal area. Turua place of great beauty. Built on an old Ngati Hako pa beside the Waihou River, which had been attacked and destroyed by Nga Puhi in Waiaro wistful waters. Waihou River named the River Thames by Captain James Cook. Its literal meaning is new or fresh water. Principal tributary is the Ohinemuri River. Waikawau waters of the cormorant, the shag. Name given to a river on the Thames coast and a bay on the east coast. Waitawheta writhing waters. Waitete Bay waters of the tete, an extinct native shovel-nosed duck. Waiwawa aka Coroglen, roaring waters. Whakatete Bay disputed land. In 1867 a dispute over ownership arose between rival Maori factions claiming ownership. The case was referred to the Native Land Court with both parties deciding to share the land equally. Whangamata harbour of obsidian. 143

5 Whanganui Island a large bay. Site of an early 19 th century trading station established by William Webster, aka Wepiha, who married a daughter of Horeta Te Taniwha (Ngati Whanaunga). The island was also called Poroporo, severance from the mainland. Whangapoua enclosed waters of the poua [shellfish]. aka Te Pungapunga for the abundance of raupo from which pungapunga /pollen was gathered and made into cakes. Wharahoe also Warahoe, a broad-leafed species of flax. Named for the abundance of flax available in the area for high-quality weaving. Wharekaho enclosed palisade. Site of one of the most prominent Ngati Hei pa. Whenuakite shortened from Te Whenua-i-kitea-e-te-manuate-o-Tamapahore; land sighted by the paper-mulberry kite of Tamapahore. Tamapahore of Tamaki made a kite that escaped his hand and landed between Coroglen and Tairua. He retrieved it, returning home with a Ngati Hei wife and then migrated back with some of his people. A Tainui version of this story has the kite taking off from Maungatautiri. Whitianga shortened from Te Whitianga O Kupe, Kupe s landing place. For further information about local Maori place names and their history, refer to Taimoana Tairoa s Te Takoto o Te Whenua o Hauraki Hauraki Landmarks, edited by Te Ahukaramuu Charles Royal, Reed, Auckland, 2000, pp