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
Northern Division (New Zealand electorate) to his resignation on 30 March 1860. He won the resulting 23 May 1860 by-election and represented the electorate until its dissolution on 6 November 1860. He was elected again for the 3rd Parliament in January 1861, and the 4th Parliament in February 1866, but he resigned on 5 June 1867. Thomas Macfarlane was elected on 6 July 1867, succeeding Henderson. James O'Neill resigned in 1869 and was succeeded by Harry Farnall. Key Table footnotes: Northern Division (New Zealand electorate) Northern Division was a two-member parliamentary electorate in the Auckland Region, New Zealand from 1853 to 1870. The southern boundary