Island Bay, Wellington
| Island Bay | |
|---|---|
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 Island Bay
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| Basic information | |
| Local authority | Wellington City |
| Date established | 1879 |
| Coordinates | 41°20′16″S 174°46′20″E / 41.33773°S 174.77231°ECoordinates: 41°20′16″S 174°46′20″E / 41.33773°S 174.77231°E |
| Population | 6,951 (2006 ) |
| Surrounds | |
| North | Berhampore |
| Northeast | Melrose |
| East | Southgate |
| Southeast | Houghton Bay |
| South | Cook Strait |
| Southwest | Ōwhiro Bay |
| West | Kingston |
| Northwest | Mornington |
Island Bay is a coastal suburb of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, situated 5 km south of the city centre.
Island Bay lies on the bay which shares its name, one of numerous small bays off Cook Strait and west of Lyall Bay. 500m offshore in Island Bay lies Tapu Te Ranga Island, which forms a natural breakwater and provides a sheltered anchorage for local fishing boats.
Noted current Island Bay residents include Andrew Little, MP and Leader of the Opposition, Bruce Stewart, writer and dramatist at Tapu Te Ranga Marae, and a former Mayor of Wellington, Celia Wade-Brown. Former residents include Middlesbrough F.C. and All Whites striker Chris Killen, artist John Drawbridge, poet Alan Brunton writer Robin Hyde, and The Hermit of Island Bay
Tapu te Ranga Island is said to be Patawa, a point from which the legendary Maori chief Kupe sighted the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, which he pursued across Cook Strait. In pre-European times, Island Bay was home to several pa, including Te Mupunga Kainga, today represented with a pou in Shorland Park. A succession of iwi occupied Island Bay, including Ngai Tara, Ngati Ira.
A famous battle which took place on the beach of Island Bay has been well documented by Elsdon Best. A raiding taua (war party) from Muau-poko were making their way to the Ngai Tara stronghold of Te Whetu-Kairangi, a fortifed pa on what is now Miramar peninsular (but was then an island). In the morning, Ngai Tara warriors came down from Uruhau fort (modern day Southgate) and engaged Muau-poko in battle on the beach. Two muaupoko chiefs were killed, and later cremated in Haewai (Houghton Bay). This battle is commemorated with a pou on the zig-zag leading from Liffey street to Orchy crescent.
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Wikipedia