Matakatia Check Point

HISTORY

The Whangaparāoa Peninsula nearly reaches sea level northeast of Manly, with Waiau Bay to the north and Matakatia Bay to the south. Before the Pākehā arrived, Māori took advantage of this narrow section of land to portage waka across the peninsula.

KOTONUI ISLAND

The small island off the coast, Kotanui Island, described by Maori as a kota nui (big cockleshell), Pakeha settlers saw it as a Frenchman’s Cap, possibly influenced by the nationality of an early settler in the area. It is also often rererred to as Finn Rock because of it's resemblance to a shark's fin and their former abundance in this area.