Tāmaki Strait

The Tāmaki Strait is an area of the Hauraki Gulf in the Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island. The strait is east of the Waitematā Harbour, and is located between Waiheke Island, East Auckland and the Pōhutukawa Coast. The area is sometimes referred to as The Back Paddock by sailors.

Geography

The Tāmaki Strait is located to the east of Auckland, south of Waiheke Island and north of the Pōhutukawa Coast. During the Last Glacial Maximum, the area was primarily a flat river valley, until between 12,000 and 7,000 years ago when sea levels rose. The westernmost points of the strait are Rangitoto Island and Achilles Point, and the easternmost are Ponui Island and Raukura Point. Within the strait is Te Matuku Marine Reserve, on the south-eastern coast of Waiheke Island.
The strait is shallow, with the majority of the area being within 10 metres under sea-level.

History

The Tāmaki Strait was one of the locations visited by the Tainui migratory waka, as the crew explored the eastern bays of the Auckland Region. The area was explored by Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki ancestor Peretū. The strait's traditional name is Te Maraetai, meaning "Marae Enclosed by the Tides", referring to how the sheltered ocean of the strait acted like a flat marae ātea. An alternative name that was used was Te Awaroa.