Lost in the heart of Auckland lies a stretch of water. It’s not just any body of water. This is the Tāmaki Strait.
Welcome to a place of great historical significance. Tāmaki Strait is an area of the Hauraki Gulf. It lies in the Auckland Region of New Zealand’s North Island. The strait is east of the Waitematā Harbour. It sits between Waiheke Island, East Auckland, and the Pōhutukawa Coast.
Imagine this area thousands of years ago. It was a flat river valley during the last glacial maximum. This was known locally as the Ōtira Glaciation. But between 12000 and 7000 years ago, sea levels rose. The Tāmaki Strait was formed.
The westernmost points of the Tāmaki Strait are Rangitoto Island and Achilles Point. The easternmost points are Ponui Island and Raukura Point. Within the strait is Te Matuku Marine Reserve. It is on the southeastern coast of Waiheke Island. The strait is shallow. Most of the area is within 10 meters under sea level.
The Tāmaki Strait has a rich history. The Tainui migratory waka visited the Tāmaki Strait. The crew explored the eastern bays of the Auckland Region. Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki ancestor Peretū explored the area.
The strait’s traditional name is Te Maraetai. This means “Marae Enclosed by the Tides”. The sheltered ocean acted like a flat marae ātea. This is a marae entrance courtyard. Another name for the strait was Te Awaroa. This means “The Long Channel”.
The Tāmaki River flows into the Tāmaki Strait. The Tāmaki River was originally called Te Wai o Taiki. This means “The Waters of Taiki”. Taiki is a shortened form of Taikehu. He was an ancestor of Ngāi Tai. The Tāmaki River is mostly an estuarial arm and harbor. It extends south 15 kilometers from its mouth. The mouth is between Saint Heliers and Bucklands Beach.
The Tāmaki River was the site of three portages. These connected the east and west coasts of New Zealand. Māori would beach their waka canoes. They dragged them overland to the other coast. This avoided paddling around North Cape. These portages made the area strategically important.
In the 1860s and 70s, the Tāmaki River was a busy waterway. Agricultural goods were transported between Ōtāhuhu and Auckland city.
The Tāmaki Strait is more than just a body of water. It is a place of history, culture, and natural beauty. It is a significant part of Auckland’s identity. The Tāmaki Strait continues to shape the region’s landscape and stories.