Story: Hawke’s Bay places

Roadside Stories: Cape Kidnappers

To Māori Cape Kidnappers is Te Matau-a-Māui – the fish hook with which demigod Māui hauled up the North Island. British explorer James Cook gave the cape its English name after a Tahitian crew member on his ship was seized by Māori. Cape Kidnappers is also home to a gannet colony where thousands of birds nest.

Listen to a Roadside Story about Cape Kidnappers. Roadside Stories is a series of audio guides to places around New Zealand.

Archival audio sourced from Natural History New Zealand.

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Hawke’s Bay places - East of Hastings', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/35317/roadside-stories-cape-kidnappers (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, updated 30 Nov 2015