East Cape

For other uses, see East Cape (disambiguation).

East Cape
Cape
East Cape on the right hand end of the Raukūmara Range
East Cape on the right hand end of the Raukūmara Range
East Cape is located in New Zealand
East Cape
East Cape
Coordinates: 37°41′21″S 178°32′54″E / 37.6892°S 178.5483°E / -37.6892; 178.5483
LocationGisborne District, New Zealand
Offshore water bodiesPacific Ocean

East Cape is the easternmost point of the main islands of New Zealand. It is at the northern end of the Gisborne District of the North Island.[1] East Cape was originally named "Cape East" by British explorer James Cook during his 1769–1779 voyage. It is one of four New Zealand cardinal capes he named, along with North Cape, West Cape and South Cape.[2]

The name "East Cape" is also used for the part of the Gisborne District north of the Poverty Bay area, but more often as a metonym for the whole Gisborne District.[3]

Maritime New Zealand operates the East Cape Lighthouse, located at the cape's easternmost point.[4] The small East Island / Whangaokeno, also known as Motu o Kaiawa, is directly offshore.[5][6] The NZ Transport Agency upgraded the Horoera Bridge in 2017,[7] giving campervans and other heavy vehicles full access to the lighthouse.[8] It replaced a temporary Bailey bridge installed in 2015.[9]

  1. ^ Hariss, Gavin. "East Cape, Gisborne". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
  2. ^ "Chart of New Zealand – J Cook 1769–70". 1770.
  3. ^ Soutar, Monty (1 March 2015). "East Coast region – Overview". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  4. ^ East Cape Lighthouse Archived 14 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Maritime New Zealand. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  5. ^ Also known as Motu o Kaiawa, see Kate MacIntyre, Te Whanau a Apanui and the East Coast Inquiry District Archived 23 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Waitangi Tribunal Scoping Report, Wai 900 #A9, p. 37.
  6. ^ East Island / Whangaokeno, Rodent Invasion Project, Department of Statistics, University of Auckland. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  7. ^ "Dropout delays bridge rebuild". Gisborne Herald. 24 July 2017. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Bridging the gap to East Cape Lighthouse". Gisborne Herald. 17 August 2017. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  9. ^ Ashton, Andrew (3 December 2015). "East Coast Lighthouse opens up for freedom campers". Gisborne Herald. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2019.