Torpedo Bay

Gazing across the shimmering expanse of Torpedo Bay, can you imagine warriors landing on these shores over a thousand years ago? Torpedo Bay, known as Te Hau Kapua in Māori, rests on the southern coast of Devonport, nestled between North Head and Devonport Beach. It’s a place where history whispers on the salty breeze, a place where echoes of ancient canoes mingle with the clang of modern ferries. According to legend, the great Polynesian navigator Kupe landed here around 925 CE, leaving behind a group of settlers who became some of New Zealand’s first inhabitants. Later, around 1150, Toi te Huatahi, guided by Kupe’s wisdom, also arrived at Torpedo Bay. His grandson, Uika, made this place his permanent home, settling on the majestic volcanic peak of North Head, known as Maungauika. Centuries later, by the late 1700s, the Ngāti Paoa tribe had established a thriving kāinga, a traditional village, right here at Torpedo Bay. They cultivated potato gardens and cabbage patches, raised pigs, and dried shark meat in the sun. Imagine the bustling activity, the smells of cooking fires, the rhythmic chants carried on the wind. Torpedo Bay wasn’t just a place of beauty; it was a lifeline. In 1827, the French explorer Jules Dumont d’Urville sailed into Torpedo Bay, anchoring his ship, the Astrolabe. He was the first European known to visit the area. His ship’s surveyor, Lottin, climbed Mount Victoria and observed the Māori fortifications, huts, and the carefully tended stonefield gardens around Torpedo Bay. But the peaceful coexistence wouldn’t last. Fears surrounding the Māori King Movement led Governor Grey to issue a proclamation in 1863, demanding Māori in the South Auckland region swear allegiance to the Queen and surrender their weapons. This marked a turning point, and the kāinga at Torpedo Bay was abandoned overnight. Later, Torpedo Bay became a hub of commercial activity, with Duder’s Wharf handling goods and serving as a major ferry terminal until the early 1900s. The bay even received its current name from the Spa torpedo boats stationed here during the 1880s. These boats were designed to plant mines alongside enemy ships, adding another layer to the rich tapestry of Torpedo Bay’s history. Now, as you stand on the shores of Torpedo Bay, with the Navy Museum a silent testament to its military past, you’re not just looking at a picturesque view. You’re looking at a place where centuries of history have unfolded, a place where the stories of explorers, warriors, and settlers intertwine, leaving an indelible mark on this small corner of the world.