Hake is a name applied to several quite different marine fish in different parts of the country. The whiting or haddock, Merluccius australis, is a true hake, very similar to the North Sea species; it is, actually, often called English hake. It occurs in fairly deep water south of Cook Strait. The southern kingfish, Jordanidia solandri, is also known as hake; it is closely related and similar to the barracouta, and found throughout New Zealand. The Cloudy Bay cod, Lotella rhacinus, is sometimes known as southern hake.

by Lawrence James Paul, B.SC., Fisheries Division, Marine Department, Wellington.