Hauraki Gulf

Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana
Satellite image of Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana
True-colour image showing the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana, with Auckland (left) and the Coromandel Peninsula (right), by NASA's Terra satellite, 2002.
Map
Location in New Zealand
Location in New Zealand
Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana
LocationUpper North Island, New Zealand
Coordinates36°20′S 175°05′E / 36.333°S 175.083°E / -36.333; 175.083 (Tīkapa Moana)
River sourcesTamaki River, Whau River, Wairoa River, Piako River, Waihou River, Waiau River, Mahurangi River
Ocean/sea sourcesPacific Ocean
Basin countriesNew Zealand
Max. length120 km (74.56 mi)
Max. width60 km (37.28 mi)
Surface area4,000 km2 (1,500 sq mi)
IslandsGreat Barrier Island, Little Barrier Island, Waiheke Island, Rangitoto, Motutapu, Tiritiri Matangi Island, Ponui Island Motukorea / Browns Island, The Noises
Sections/sub-basinsFirth of Thames, Tamaki Strait, Rangitoto Channel, Colville Channel, Cradock Channel, Waitematā Harbour
SettlementsAuckland, Thames, Coromandel, Snells Beach, Orewa

The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana is a coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It has an area of 4000 km2,[1] and lies between, in anticlockwise order, the Auckland Region, the Hauraki Plains, the Coromandel Peninsula, and Great Barrier Island. Most of the gulf is part of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

Hauraki is Māori for north wind.[2] In 2014, the gulf was officially named Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana.[3] The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "the mournful sea" for Tīkapa Moana.[4] In traditional legend, the Hauraki Gulf is protected by a taniwha named Ureia, who takes the form of a whale.[5]

  1. ^ [1] Zeldisl, J. R. et al. (1995) Salp grazing: effects on phytoplankton abundance, vertical distribution and taxonomic composition in a coastal habitat. Marine Ecology Progress Series, Vol. 126, p 267-283
  2. ^ Hauraki Gulf (from 'Te Ara', the Encyclopedia of New Zealand')
  3. ^ "NZGB decisions". Land Information New Zealand. September 2014. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  4. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  5. ^ Wilson, Karen (28 August 2018). "Brief of Evidence of Karen Akamira Wilson on Behalf of Te Ākitai Waiohua" (PDF). Ministry of Justice. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2022.