Naming the Māori Ward

Te Pakikau o te Ika Maōri Ward

The Hauraki region was traditionally known as Te Tara o te Ika a Māui or the barb of the fish of Māui. (With the fish being the shape of a stingray and the Coromandel Peninsula being the barb).

On the image shown here, you can see how the shape of the North Island takes on the shape of a Stingray. Either side of the barb are the fins or “flaps of the fish”. We have two places here in Hauraki which take on the name Te Pakikau o te Ika. Both are located either side of the' barb' when viewing a map directly above Hauraki. These blocks are perfectly located where the fins of the stingray would be, looking at the image. Quite fascinating that Māori were able to name places in near exact locations without the use of modern tools or technology.