A. W. Reed gives the Māori name for is "Ohikaparuparu" ("o" means place of; "hika" means rubbing, kindling, or planting; "paruparu" means dirt, deeply laden, or a preparation of fermented cockles). However, J. F Menzies indicates this name is associated with a settlement on the shores of the estuary between Redcliffs and Mt Pleasant and prefers an alternative translation of ""The place where sticks were rubbed together to make a fire with which to cook cockles in preparation for a journey"". Andersen places this name on the beach at the mouth of the estuary, near Shag Rock ("Rapanui"). James Cowan, retelling Sir Maui Pomare, indicates this name applies to the estuary shallows and means ""fall in the mud"".