Island Bay is a coastal suburb of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, situated 5 km south of the city centre.
Island Bay lies on the bay which shares its name, one of numerous small bays off Cook Strait and west of Lyall Bay. 500m offshore in Island Bay lies Tapu Te Ranga Island, which forms a natural breakwater and provides a sheltered anchorage for local fishing boats.
Noted current Island Bay residents include Andrew Little, MP and past Leader of the Opposition, and Celia Wade-Brown, former Mayor of Wellington. Former residents include Bruce Stewart, writer and dramatist at Tapu Te Ranga Marae; Middlesbrough F.C. and All Whites striker Chris Killen; artist John Drawbridge; poet Alan Brunton; writer Robin Hyde; and The Hermit of Island Bay
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History
Tapu te Ranga Island is said to be Patawa, a point from which the legendary Maori chief Kupe sighted the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, which he pursued across Cook Strait. In pre-European times, Island Bay was home to several pa, including Te Mupunga Kainga, today represented with a pou in Shorland Park. A succession of iwi occupied Island Bay, including Ngai Tara, Ngati Ira.
A famous battle which took place on the beach of Island Bay has been well documented by Elsdon Best. A raiding taua (war party) from Muau-poko were making their way to the Ngai Tara stronghold of Te Whetu-Kairangi, a fortifed pa on what is now Miramar peninsular (but was then an island). In the morning, Ngai Tara warriors came down from Uruhau fort (modern day Southgate) and engaged Muau-poko in battle on the beach. Two muaupoko chiefs were killed, and later cremated in Haewai (Houghton Bay). This battle is commemorated with a pou on the zig-zag leading from Liffey street to Orchy crescent.
During a battle in which Ngati Mutunga drove Ngati Ira from Wellington in 1827, Tamairangi, the wife of the Ngati Ira chief, is said to have sought refuge on Tapu te Ranga Island with her children, fleeing by canoe when Tapu te Ranga Island was besieged. In Treaty of Waitangi settlements, both Te Atiawa and Ngati Toa have claimed tangata whenua status over Tapu te Ranga Island. Ngati Toas case was proven in the Maori Land Court
In the early days of European settlement George Hunter was the chief proprietor of the Island Bay Estate, where he bred stock on his stud farm. The Island Bay portion was subdivided and auctioned in March 1879. In the late 19th century, Island Bay was settled by Italian and Shetlander fishermen. In 1905, Wellington's tramline was extended to Island Bay, increasing the area's popularity, and steadily transforming it into a seaside suburb. Many Island Bay villas, bungalows and shops date from the 1920s, a period of rapid development for the area. This included the subdivision of the Island Bay Racecourse which was once bounded by Clyde Street on the East and Ribble Street on the West. Many streets in Island Bay were named after British and European rivers.
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Notable features
- Erskine College and Chapel
- Island Bay Marine Education Centre
- Churches
- Streets and Roads:
Many local streets are named after rivers around the world, including the following:
- Rotunda
- Scuba diving
- Shorland Park
- Tapu Te Ranga Marae
- Taputeranga Marine Reserve
- Tapu Te Ranga Motu (the Island)
- Victoria University Coastal Ecology Laboratory
- Walkways
Island Bay Festival
The annual Island Bay Festival takes place over eight days each February. Festival highlights include:
- The Blessing of the Boats
- The Ribble Street Races
- The swim from the Island
- The Festival Parade
- The Teddy Bears Picnic
Arts and Culture
- Rita Angus, artist
- Empire Cinema, film
- Laura Garland, artist
- Michael McCormack, artist
- Music
- Red Mole, theatre
- Chris Visser-Fee, comedian, was raised, and continues to live in Island bay, where he regularly performs comedic routines, many known for their slapstick appeal.
- Freya Elkink, artist, resides in Island Bay. Her art form mostly composes of artistic impressionism, placing popular Wellington faces into less than likely situations.
Schools
Island Bay School is a zoned decile 10 state primary school, teaching boys and girls from years 1 to 6. St Frances de Sales School is a Catholic decile 10 state primary school, teaching boys and girls from years 1 to 8.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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