Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve
Te Whanganui-A-Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve is in the southern part of Mercury Bay on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand covering an area of 840 hectares (2,100 acres).[1] On the coast of the mainland, it stretches from Cook Bluff in the north-west to the northern end of Hahei Beach in the south-east. Its offshore extremes run from Motukorure Island through Waikaranga Island to Okorotere Island and the northern end of Mahurangi Island (Goat Island).
| Te Whanganui-A-Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve | |
|---|---|
 Cathedral Cove in 2019 | |
.svg)  | |
| Location | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 36°49′42″S 175°47′24″E / 36.82833°S 175.79000°E |
| Area | 840 ha |
| Established | 1992 |
| Governing body | Department of Conservation |
Part of the marine reserve lies off the Cathedral Cove Recreation Reserve, which runs from the northern end of Hahei Beach in the south-east to beyond Cathedral Cove in the north-west. With attractions such as a natural rock archway and neighbouring beaches at Cathedral Cove, the area is very popular with tourists, and receives around 150,000 visitors per year.[2]
The walkway to the cove was closed due to damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.[3] In January 2024, the Department of Conservation said they were "not confident" the track would reopen due to significant damage to the stability of the ground in the area.[4] An alternative viewing point has been established, and the cove can be viewed from boats, but access to the beach remains restricted.[5]
Etymology
editThe Māori name for Mercury Bay, Te Whanganui-A-Hei (meaning the Great Bay of Hei), refers to Hei, a tohunga from the Te Arawa waka. According to tradition, Hei chose the area around Mercury Bay as home for his tribe, proclaiming ownership by calling Motueka Island "Te Kuraetanga-o-taku-Ihu" (the outward curve of my nose). It is said he made this claim near the present-day town of Hahei.[6]
In popular culture
editThe cave and beach were used as the tunnel through which the Pevensie children first re-enter Narnia in the movie version of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008).[7] The cove was used as one of the locations in the music video for the song "Can't Hold Us" (2011) by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton.[8] The cove was used as a wallpaper for Microsoft's Operating System Windows 10
Gallery
edit-
Cathedral Cove in 2019 -
View towards Cathedral Cove from the sea -
View from lookout near car park over Stingray Bay to Cathedral Cove -
View through rock arch towards Te Hoho Rock in Cathedral Cove
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Marine Reserve (Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove)) Order 1992 (SR 1992/387)". New Zealand Government. 24 December 1992. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ^ O'Rourke, Simon (2 November 2007). "Billionaire in coast dust-up". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ "Report emphasises risks of rockfall, landslides at Cathedral Cove, Hahei", Department of Conservation - Media Releases, New Zealand Government, archived from the original on 14 January 2024, retrieved 24 January 2024
- ^ "DOC 'not confident' of Cathedral Cove track reopening", Stuff, 24 January 2024, retrieved 24 January 2024
- ^ "Cathedral Cove and Hahei updates", Department of Conservation, New Zealand Government, 19 January 2024, archived from the original on 6 January 2024, retrieved 24 January 2024
- ^ "Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve". Department of Conservation. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- ^ Peck, Sally (12 August 2016). "12 fantasy film locations that really exist - in New Zealand". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Wade, Amelia (18 April 2013). "Cathedral Cove stars in new Macklemore video". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
External links
edit- Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve, Department of Conservation