Te Unuhanga-a-Rangitoto / Mercer Bay
Te Unuhanga-a-Rangitoto / Mercer Bay is a bay on the Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located south of Piha and north of Karekare. The bay is surrounded by 60 m (200 ft)-high cliffs, which are the tallest in the Auckland Region. DescriptionTe Unuhanga-a-Rangitoto / Mercer Bay is on the west coast of the Auckland Region, between Te Ahua Point and Farley Point, north-west of Karekare.[1] The bay has the tallest cliffs found in the Auckland Region,[2][3] which are over 60 metres (200 ft) high.[4] The beach disappears entirely at high tide.[3] The northern end of the beach is the location of Te Ana Areare, caves traditionally used as a refuge by Te Kawerau ā Maki, and a shag colony is found at the southern end of the beach.[3] HistoryThe bay is within the traditional rohe of the Te Kawerau ā Maki iwi. Te Unuhanga-a-Rangitoto ("Place from Where Rangitoto Was Drawn") refers to a traditional story involving the ancient supernatural ancestor Tiriwa, who lifts Rangitoto Island from its location on the Tasman Sea to the Hauraki Gulf, as a show of his power to other Tūrehu.[1][5][6] Another traditional story involving the area is Te Ahua o Hinerangi, the story of Hinerangi who fell to her death at Te Ahua Point.[4] After the land was acquired by the Crown, it was granted to a settler named Andrew Mercer, who became the namesake of the bay's English language name.[5] The Māori language name for the bay was officially added in November 2015 by the New Zealand Geographic Board under the terms of Te Kawerau ā Maki Claims Settlement Act 2015.[1][7] The Mercer Bay Loop Track is a popular walking track along the cliffs above the bay.[5] After kauri dieback led to the closure of many Waitākere Ranges tracks, the Mercer Bay Loop Track grew significantly in popularity.[4] Numerous deaths and disappearances have been linked to the bay.[8][9] References
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