Steeple Rock

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Steeple Rock, Wellington Harbour

Steeple Rock/Te Aroaro-o-Kupe is a large rock off Seatoun at the west of the entrance to Wellington Harbour, rising 7 metres (23 ft) above sea level. The rock plays a role in warning ships off the coast. It is the location of a marine light and an unbeaconed trig station (‘Steeple Rock Light’, geodetic code B0XX).

Its Māori name is Te Aroaro-o-Kupe (The front of Kupe or The presence of Kupe[1]). The name was officially changed in 2009 from Te Ure-o-Kupe (The penis of Kupe).[2] Kupe, the legendary discoverer of Aotearoa, is said to have injured himself on the rock while swimming.[3]

In earlier times Steeple Rock was also known as Pinnacle Rock.[4][5] This should not be confused with The Pinnacles, a group of rocks extending from the tip of Point Dorset, south of Steeple Rock.[6]

While Steeple Rock is not as much of a hazard to shipping as Barrett Reef to the south, several ships have got into trouble around the rock, for example:

  • 1844 Royal William, sloop. Got stuck and had to be pulled off Steeple Rock.[7]
  • 1874 Anne Melhuish, barque. Got stuck at Steeple Rock.[8]
  • 1889 Willie McLaren, barque. Damaged when it hit a rock near Steeple Rock. Took on water, so the captain took the ship to Worser Bay where it sank.[9]
  • 1921 Rona, barque. Ran aground on Steeple Rock.[10] Refloated and repaired.
  • 1968 TEV Wahine, inter-island passenger ferry. The Wahine struck Barrett Reef and then drifted north until she foundered near Steeple Rock.[11] 53 lives lost.

References[]

  1. ^ "Wellington Region - Early Māori History". Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  2. ^ Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand - Maori exploration in Wellington
  3. ^ "Steeple Rock/Te Aroaro-o-Kupe". Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) - Toitū te whenua. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014.
  4. ^ "[untitled]". Evening Post. 4 September 1876. Retrieved 21 January 2022 – via Paperspast. ... there was some target practice, the improvised target being the Pinnacle or Steeple Rock.
  5. ^ "[untitled]". New Zealand Times. 9 July 1904. Retrieved 21 January 2022 – via Paperspast. The Pinnacle Rock, off Seatoun, also bears a name conferred in memory of Kupe.
  6. ^ "NZ Marine Charts". wetmaps.co.nz. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  7. ^ "County Court, Wellington". New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator. 16 March 1844. Retrieved 21 January 2022 – via Paperspast.
  8. ^ "Inquiry into the stranding of the Anne Melhuish". New Zealand Times. 12 November 1874. Retrieved 21 January 2022 – via Paperspast.
  9. ^ "Another shipping disaster". New Zealand Times. 7 October 1889. Retrieved 21 January 2022 – via Paperspast.
  10. ^ "Mishap off Seatoun". Evening Post. 27 June 1921. Retrieved 21 January 2022 – via Paperspast.
  11. ^ "Wahine disaster map". NZ History. Retrieved 21 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Coordinates: 41°19′26″S 174°50′29″E / 41.323975°S 174.841294°E / -41.323975; 174.841294


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