Originally known as Tindalls Bay as that was where William Tindall had his home, the name Matakatia has only been in use since the 1940’s.
The small island off the coast, Kotanui Island, described by Maori as a kota nui (big cockleshell) was seen by Pakeha settlers as a Frenchman’s Cap, possibly influenced by the nationality of an early settler in the area.
The island is also known as Shark Fin island because of it's distinctive shape.
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HISTORY
Being the location of one of the pa used by early Maori for their portage of waka across the Peninsula, Matakatia was originally referred to by early Europeans as Tindalls Bay after the purchase of land by William Tindall.
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