Ruakākā Bay
LocationMarlborough Sounds
Coordinates41°11′54″S 174°07′34″E / 41.19833°S 174.12611°E / -41.19833; 174.12611

Ruakākā Bay[1][2] is a bay in Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand, sitting between Blackwood Bay and Bay of Many Coves / Miritū Bay.

Naming

Ruakākā is a combination of the Māori language words rua,[3] meaning "hole", and kākā,[4] the native parrot Nestor meridionalis. Together the name means "kākā hole/s", referencing the kākā nests built in holes in the trees there.[5] Ruakākā Bay was dubbed "Fly Bay" on John Lort Stokes' map.[6]

Contained geographies

Cherry Bay

Cherry Bay is located on Ruakākā Bay's eastern coast, between Ratimera Bay and Moriori Bay.[7] The bay's name is likely a reference to cherry trees being planted there, much like Cherry Tree Bay[8] on D'Urville Island.

Moriori Bay

Moriori Bay is located on the western coast of Ruakākā Bay, between Cherry Bay and Wairākau Bay.[9] The bay is likely named for the Moriori, the native people of the Chatham Islands. Pit dwellings, similar to those used by the Moriori, have been found in various places throughout the Marlborough Sounds.[10] Linguistic studies have shown the Moriori ancestors likely immigrated from New Zealand around 1500CE, as the Moriori language shares many characteristics with the Ngāi Tahu dialect of the Māori language.

Ngatakore Point

Ngatakore Point[11] is located on the eastern tip of Ruakākā Bay.

Ngatakore can be split into two Māori language words, ngata[12] meaning "snail" or "slug", and kore[13] meaning "broken" or "no longer". Together, the name can be taken to mean "broken snail shell"[5] or "no longer snails/slugs".

Pirapu Bay & Pirapu Point

Pirapu Bay[14] is the only named bay on the eastern coast of Ruakākā Bay. Pirapu Point[15] sits at its northern tip.

The Māori language name Pīrapu can be split into two words, pī[16] meaning "the young of birds", and rapu[17] meaning "to search/hunt for". Together, the name means "to search/hunt for young birds".[5]

Ratimera Bay & Ratimera Point

Ratimera Bay is the northern most bay on the western coast of Ruakākā Bay.[18] Ratimera Point marks its northern tip.[19]

The Māori language name Rātimera can be split into two words, rā[20] meaning "over there" or "yonder", and timera[21] meaning "chimney" or "funnel". Together, the name could mean "place to spot ship chimneys", or simply "chimney". Historian William Henry Sherwood Roberts posits it means "the yonder headland cliff".[5]

West Head

West Head[22] is located on the eastern tip of Ruakākā Bay. West Head is a reference to the points location opposite Tory Channel. Its counterpart, East Head, is now known as Bull Head.[23] Other points known as West Head in New Zealand can be found here.

Luke Rock

Luke Rock sits in the entrance to Ruakākā Bay.[24] The rock is marked by a white beacon with a flashing green light. The water around Luke Rock is relatively deep, with the North-East side containing weeds and a depth of only two metres.[1]

Wairākau Bay

The Māori language name Wairākau[25] can be split into two Māori language words, wai[26] meaning "water", and rākau[27] meaning "tree" or "stick". Together, the name means "trees in the water" or "waterlogged sticks".

References

  1. 1 2 "Cruise Guide: Ruakaka Bay". cruiseguide.co.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  2. ↑ "Ruakākā Bay". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  3. ↑ "Rua". Te Aka Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  4. ↑ "Kākā". Te Aka Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Roberts, W.H. (20 September 1911). Māori Nomenclature. Dunedin: Otago Daily Times.
  6. ↑ "Cook Strait Anchorages Sheet 2". kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "Cherry Bay". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "Cruise Guide: Cherry Tree Bay". cruiseguide.co.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  9. ↑ "Moriori Bay". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  10. ↑ "C2: The Ancient Pit Dwellers". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  11. ↑ "Ngatakore Point". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  12. ↑ "Ngata". Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  13. ↑ "Kore". Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  14. ↑ "Pirapu Bay". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  15. ↑ "Pirapu Point". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  16. ↑ "Pī". Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  17. ↑ "Rapu". Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  18. ↑ "Ratimera Bay". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  19. ↑ "Ratimera Point". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  20. ↑ "Rā". Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  21. ↑ "Timera". Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  22. ↑ "West Head". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  23. ↑ "Bull Head". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  24. ↑ "Luke Rock". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  25. ↑ "Wairākau Bay". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  26. ↑ "Wai". Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  27. ↑ "Rākau". Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
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