Puangiangi Island & Tinui Island

The anchorage shown in the small cove on Puangiangi provides shelter in NW to E winds in about 5 m. The bay is shallow at its head, with a lot of weed. Care should be taken when laying anchors, to ensure they bite to the bottom and do not become fouled with weed.

The anchorage shown on Tinui Island is sheltered from SW to S to NW winds. There is good holding on sandy bottom in about 5 m of water. Sea breezes tend to curl into this anchorage, but with little sea or strength of wind. “Tinui Anchorage” is best with Danforth or similar type of anchor, a plough or this type may not hold if winds over 20 knots. Not ideal in gale conditions for comfort.

Videos / other media

Fly through the narrow gap from Wakaterepapanui Island to Puangiangi Island. See if you can spot the boat along the way!

History

Wakatere-papanui is the northern most island. Its name means to set adrift in a canoe when there is mist on the sea. Māori tradition states that if Wakatere-papanui appears to be floating when viewed from a distance, then the day will be fine.

The highest point on the island is called Whakatari after the uncle of the great Ngāti Toa chief, Te Rauparaha, who guarded the entrance to the Pelorus Sound following the Battle of Waiorua in 1824.

Puangiangi Island is the centre island. The high point on the island is known as Mistaken Point.

Tinui Island is separated from Rangitoto ki te Tonga / D’Urville Island by a stretch of water known as the the Rangitoto Roads. Its name means cabbage tree.

The island was once home to the Ruruku family, decedents of Roma Hoera Ruruku, the paramount chief of Rangitoto ki te Tonga / D’Urville Island during the 1890s and an early convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.¹

1. Olive Baldwin, Story of New Zealand’s French Pass and d’Urville Island (Plimmerton: Fields Publishing House, 1979) 120, 127-128.

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