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
North Harbour, New Zealand North Harbour, New Zealand North Harbour is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located 12 kilometres north of the city centre, to the south of the suburb of Albany, close to the northern edge of the city. The name "North Harbour" also has a more general usage referring to all those parts of the Auckland conurbation sited to the north of the Waitematā Harbour, which includes the entirety of the former North Shore City (including Hibiscus Coast), plus parts of the former Waitakere City. The name thus applied finds its most common usage when referring to the North