Karehana Bay is a bay and nearby residential area at the western end of Plimmerton, a northern coastal suburb of Porirua. It is located near the entrance to the Porirua Harbour, to the south-east of Hongoeka. It is about 5 minutes drive to Karehana Bay from the State Highway 1 turnoff to Plimmerton. The area looks out towards Mana Island and across Cook Strait to the South Island. Karehana Bay is the site of a fine sediment beach, the Plimmerton Boating Club, Karehana Park and the Karehana Bay Scenic Reserve.
Name
The bay and the adjacent residential area are named after Whakataki Karehana, a Ngati Toa chief who lived in the area in the 1890s. The name was assigned to the area by the Hutt County Council in 1923. The name Karehana Bay has been depicted in maps and survey plans since 1952 and Karehana Bay was first named as a separate suburb from Plimmerton in Department of Lands and Survey maps in 1965. It continues to appear in Land Information New Zealandtopographical maps, along with the bay. However, in 2011 the New Zealand Geographic Board accepted a Porirua City Council proposal to amalgamate the recorded names of "Karehana Bay" and "Plimmerton" under the official name "Plimmerton".
History
Karehana Bay was the site of Motuhara Pa, which may have predated the arrival of Ngati Toa in the 1820s. The coastal area around Plimmerton, including Karehana Bay, began to be developed in the late 19th and early 20th century. In 1905 George Troup purchased 365 acres of land at Plimmerton. In the following years, Troup subdivided a large area of land at Karehana Bay and laid out several of its roads, including Cluny, Gordon, Airlie and Ogilvie roads. At that time the subdivision was known as the Plimmerton Extension, with the first auction of the land held on 26 January 1909. A further auction of 100 properties was held on 6 March 1912. Early baches were owned by Ernest Gyton and Frederick Bilton. During the 1980s and 1990s the area experienced a considerable change in its socioeconomic landscape as many affluent Wellingtonians became aware of its natural beauty, resulting in many small coastal batches and cottages being replaced with larger family homes and infill housing. Many retired residents still remain in their older batches and cottages, allowing the area to retain something of its character.
Notable references and events
The bay features in the poem by Denis Glover, Threnody: "In Plimmerton, in Plimmerton, the little penguins play, and one dead albatross was found at Karehana Bay" Karehana Bay has hosted Plimmerton Kindergarten's annual Plimmerton Mid-Winter Dip fund raiser since 1997.
