05 July 2014

Rising to the surface of a holy island

Cook Strait, uncharacteristically peaceful on a warm winter's day, as viewed from the south-west corner of Island Bay, around lunchtime today. (Steak and cheese pie from the Blue Belle Cafe, thanks for asking). Legend has it that the first Maori waka to arrive in this bay landed on the island deftly and was assisted to a safe mooring by a fortunate swell, so the island was given the name Motutapuaranga - which is something like 'rising to the surface of a holy island' if I'm translating it correctly. The canoe later went on to settle Whakatane. The Maori name for the Island Bay valley is Paekawakawa.

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