Cook Strait Cook Strait Cook Strait () is a strait that separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It connects the Tasman Sea on the northwest with the South Pacific Ocean on the southeast, and runs next to the capital city, Wellington. It is wide at its narrowest point, and is considered one of the most dangerous and unpredictable waters in the world. The strait is named after James Cook, the first European commander to sail through it, in 1770. In Māori it has the name "Raukawa" or "Te Moana-o-Raukawa". "Raukawa" may mean "bitter leaves". In Māori legend, Cook Strait
HMS New Zealand (1904) became the 2nd Division, Home Fleet, and "New Zealand" became a Home Fleet unit in that division. To release her name for use by the new battlecruiser HMS "New Zealand", which had been presented to the Royal Navy by the government of New Zealand, it became necessary to rename "New Zealand" in 1911. At first the name "Caledonia", the Roman name for northern Great Britain, was favoured, but this met opposition in New Zealand. Eventually, the name "Zealandia", a personification of New Zealand, was agreed upon, and "New Zealand" was renamed "Zealandia" on 1 December 1911. Under a fleet reorganisation