Pākā Bay facts for kids

Pākā Bay is a beautiful bay located on the eastern side of Lake Taupō in New Zealand. It's about 27 kilometers (17 miles) southeast of the town of Taupō. This bay has had a few different names over time, including Halletts Bay and Hamaria. But its original name, Pākā, has now been restored. Long ago, a famous Māori explorer named Tia visited this area. He built a special place called a tūāhu, which was like a ceremonial altar. This showed that he claimed the land. He also named the nearby cliffs Taupō-nui-a-Tia, which means "the great cloak of Tia." Later, this name was given to the entire lake by the tribes who settled there.

History of Pākā Bay

The history of Pākā Bay is deeply connected to early Māori explorers and their journeys.

The Story of Ngātoro-i-rangi and Tia

Ngātoro-i-rangi was a very important ancestor for the Ngāti Tūwharetoa tribe. He was a priest and a navigator on the Te Arawa canoe, which brought people to New Zealand (Aotearoa). When he arrived, he traveled inland to find new lands for his people. He eventually reached the Taupō area.

Ngātoro-i-rangi climbed Tauhara mountain and then explored around Lake Taupō. When he arrived at Pākā Bay, he found a tūāhu (ceremonial altar) that had already been built by Tia. This altar had fresh green leaves, showing it was very new.

Ngātoro-i-rangi then built his own tūāhu. He used old, burnt materials for his altar. He performed special sacred ceremonies there to show his claim to the land. When he showed his tūāhu to Tia, Tia saw the older materials. This meant Ngātoro-i-rangi's claim was older. Tia agreed that Ngātoro-i-rangi had arrived first. After this, Tia left Pākā Bay and traveled to Titiraupenga, on the western side of Lake Taupō.

The Meaning of Pākā

The name Pākā comes from the Te Reo Māori word meaning "to be burnt" or "scorched." This name refers to Ngātoro-i-rangi scorching the branches and leaves for his tūāhu.

Changes to the Bay's Name

In the mid-1800s, missionaries changed the name of Pākā to 'Hamaria'. This was a Māori version of the biblical name Samaria. Later, the bay was renamed 'Halletts Bay'. However, the original name, Pākā Bay, was eventually restored. In March 2019, the name was officially changed back to Pākā Bay. This happened after the Ngāti Tūwharetoa Claims Settlement Act 2018 was passed.

Geological Features

Pākā Bay includes a notable point of land:

• Toki Point