The piled-up bodies of chiefs on the lake's foreshore gave the battle its name:  (heap of sharks). That name is also used for the lake in general. The site of the battle is regarded as a wāhi tapu (sacred place) and local Ngāi Tahu will not harvest food from the lake or swim in it.
The bodies of chiefs piled on the lake's shore gave the battle its name: (heap of sharks). This name is also used to refer to the entire lake. The site of the battle is considered a sacred place, and local Ngāi Tahu will not harvest food from the lake or swim in it.