Whatamangō Bay[1][2] is a large bay in Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui, New Zealand, near Waitohi / Picton. It is accessible by road, with the back of the bay containing a campsite[3] and a number of properties. The bay meets Waikawa Bay at Te Rae o Karaka / Karaka Point, and is home to the exit of the Graham River.

Naming

Whatamangō is made up of 2 Te Reo Māori words, whata,[4] meaning "elevated stage" or "storage place", and mangō,[5] a name for dogfish and sharks. Together they mean "an elevated stage for storing dogfish/sharks".[6] Peter Fannin's chart from James Cook's second expedition gives the name Beautifull Bay to either Whatamangō Bay or Waikawa Bay.[7]

Ahuriri Bay

Ahuriri Bay[8] sits at the back of Whatamangō Bay.

Ahuriri[9] is a Te Reo Māori word meaning "trench" or "dyke", or a "low fence in a cultivation or pā entrance". The name can also be split into the syllables ahu,[10] meaning "to tend/foster/nurture" or "to heap up", and riri,[11] meaning "to be angry", or "fight/battle". The name could therefore mean "to heap up anger", "to foster battle", or "to foster anger".[6]

Te Rae o Karaka / Karaka Point

Te Rae o Karaka / Karaka Point[12] sits between Whatamangō Bay and Waikawa Bay. Karaka[13] is the Te Reo Māori name for the Corynocarpus laevigatus, and a Te Reo Māori word for the colour orange, karaka, is derived from it. The point could be named for its orange hue, or the presence of karaka trees. Te Rae o Karaka[14][15][16] translates to "the headland/promontory of karaka"

A substantial pā was built along Te Rae o Karaka by early Kāti Māmoe residents, and succeeding iwi took possession peacefully or otherwise.[17] Eventually iwi from Te Ika a Māui began movements and raids on Te Waipounamu. In the summer of 1829–30, Te Ātiawa swept into Tōtaranui / Queen Charlotte Sound, attacking those in East Bay and Endeavour Inlet. Large numbers of Rangitāne and some Ngāti Apa retreated to the Te Rae o Karaka pā, thinking it impregnable due to its shear cliff-face.[17] Tuiti Makitānara described insults being thrown between the attackers and defenders, whilst a group landed and took up offensive positions in the mānuka behind the pā. Once positioned, the rest of the attackers drew in and began picking off defending chiefs and warriors using their muskets. These deaths caused panic amongst the defenders, and a large group attempted to escape the pā through its back gate, but were ambushed and annihilated by the group in the mānuka. For some years after the fact, the deserted headland was cleared and used for farming. In the 20th century, the land was gifted to the nation and became a scenic and historic reserve in August 1953. Today, Rangitāne has erected a beautiful pou on the site representing the story of Kupe's battle with the giant wheke, and interpretive boards can be found describing the visible landscape features.[17] Today a pathway leads up the once impregnable cliff-face.[18]

Tuna Point

Tuna Point[19] is located on the eastern coast of Whatamangō Bay, near its centre.

Tuna[20] is a Te Reo Māori word meaning "eel".

Motueka Bay

Motueka Bay[21] is a bay just outside of Whatamangō Bay. Motueka is a contraction of motu,[22] meaning "land", "clump of trees", or anything separated or isolated, and weka,[23] a native bird also known as the Gallirallus australis. The Western Weka or Gallirallus australis Australias, is found throughout the Marlborough Sounds.[24] The name of the bay can therefore be taken to mean the "grove of the weka"[6] or the "land of the weka". Motueka is also the name of a town in the Tasman District / Te Tai o Aorere.

References