“Tangiwai the tear-water stone occurs at Anita Bay.” That’s what the Māori knew long before European settlers arrived. Welcome to Anita Bay. This place at the entrance to Milford Sound has a story etched in stone and time.
Anita Bay’s history stretches back centuries. Māori settled here around 1200 AD or 1300 AD. Inter-tribal warfare caused most to move away. A small “lost tribe” remained rarely seen.
Despite its isolation Anita Bay held great value. It was a source of pounamu or greenstone. Tangiwai a unique bowenite rock was especially prized. Māori traders traveled great distances to find this sacred stone. They used it like iron and marble.
Tangiwai gets its name from tears of deep sorrow. This sorrow is never fully healed. Anita Bay is where this precious stone can be found.
Archaeological surveys in the 1970s revealed little about early Māori life here. The bowenite at Anita Bay was disappointingly flaky. Landslides may have covered better deposits.
Experts believe the artifacts found here represent several time periods. Anita Bay was likely visited sporadically over a long time.
This bloody inhospitable place offered plenty of fish. Temporary settlers could survive here. Marine life included blue cod groper sharks crayfish penguins and fur seals. Edible birds like kaka woodhen pigeons and muttonbirds were also available.
Māori likely arrived by canoe from Martin’s Bay. It was 18 miles to the north. An active community thrived there into the 19th century.
Europeans tried to find bowenite at Anita Bay in the 19th century. They were largely unsuccessful. Landslips may have hidden richer deposits.
The European story of Milford Sound is similar to other wild areas of coastal New Zealand.
Captain Cook missed Milford Sound during his voyages. He thought its narrow entrance was just a shallow bay. Later the Royal Navy surveyed the South Island.
Captain John Grono named the fjord in 1812. He named it after Milford Haven in Wales. Ironically Milford Haven is a flooded valley not a fjord. Grono was an Australian sealer. He transported fur seal skins from New Zealand to Australia.
Mr and Mrs C H Long lived at Anita Bay for years. Hugh McKenzie tended their garden. He dug up adzes and other stones. Mrs Long of Riverton kept most of them.
Imagine life at Anita Bay. The Longs tending their garden McKenzie unearthing ancient tools. The echoes of Māori traders seeking tangiwai. The isolation the stunning beauty the weight of history.
Anita Bay is more than just a beautiful spot. It is a place where the stories of Māori and European settlers intertwine. It is a place where the past is etched in the very stones beneath our feet.
Remember Tangiwai the tear-water stone. Remember the Māori who braved the elements to find it. Remember the Longs and McKenzie who made a life here. Anita Bay is a reminder of the enduring power of history and the human spirit.