The shared cycle and pedestrian pathway around Otago Harbour has been gifted a new name.

The full trail running ‘port to port’ from Port Chalmers to and beyond Portobello will be known as Te Aka Ōtākou, meaning The Otago Vine in reference to its winding path around the harbour. The name was gifted for use by Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou from a suggestion by former Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu chief executive Tahu Pōtiki shortly before his death in 2019.

As well as Te Aka Ōtākou, Mr Pōtiki gave names for the paths on each side of the harbour. The northern or State Highway 88 trail will be known as Te Ara Moana, meaning the Ocean Path, referring to the direction of the tide as it flows out of the harbour towards the ocean.

The eastern or Otago Peninsula trail will be named Te Awa Ōtākou meaning the Ocean River in reference to the Otago harbour ocean tide flowing like a river. The oceanic current in the harbour is of singular and enduring significance to Ōtākou. It was the main highway for travel to and from the inland trails to the ocean. Known as an ‘awa moana’ – a mixed river of both fresh and salt water, Te Awa Ōtākou was an abundant mahika kai harbour.

The Peninsula Connection shared pathway, through to Portobello on the Te Awa Ōtākou side of the trail, is expected to be completed by mid-2024.