What’s in a name?*

The traditional and earliest known Māori name for Pukerua Bay is Pukerua. This translates as “two hills” for the two ridges on either side of the Bay, most noticeable when looking from the sea. Many travellers recorded passing through or stopping at Pukerua. When the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company called for tenders for constructing the section from Plimmerton to Pukerua it was called the Pukerua Contract, Porirua Section. When Charles Gray made his first subdivision in October 1915 a note accompanying the plan stated, “The name suggested, Pukerua, is the name of the Railway Station situated about a mile to South West of the Subdivision by road, and there appears to be no other town in the vicinity.”

A post office was opened in Mrs Norma Ames’ Pukerua Cash Store on 1 July 1919. This was officially called the Waimapihi Post Office rather than Pukerua because of the very close resemblance to Pukerau, the name of an existing post office in Southland, near Gore. However, locals wanted the post office and station to be called Pukerua Bay. The member of Parliament for Otaki (and Pukerua) Mr W H Field became involved late in 1920 when the Railways Department objected to the addition of “Bay” to the station name. With neither the Post and Telegraph Department nor the Railway Department being willing to budge, Field wrote to the Prime Minister William Massey on behalf of the residents of Pukerua. On 10 January 1921 the name of the post office was changed to Pukerua Bay.

R W McVilly, the General Manager of Railways did not order the name of the station to be changed until after a tragic event, relating to the name Pukerua, unfolded. On Thursday 22 March 1923 a shepherd on Gray’s farm discovered the badly decomposed body of a man about three miles from the road. Police found on the body two bank drafts for £5, 11s 2d in coins, two photos and a passport. The deceased was 70 year old labourer William Lloyd who had arrived in Wellington from London on the Corinthic on 7 March.

At the inquest Constable William O’Donnell of Johnsonville recounted finding and identifying Lloyd and “the discovery of a bag, belonging to the deceased at a small station named Pukerua. The bag, in addition to the deceased’s name, bore the address: “George Johnstone, c/o Stationmaster, Pukerau, South Island.” At this stage the inquest was adjourned for the purpose of the institution of further inquiries by the police.” The conclusion of the inquest in April heard that Lloyd had met his death through confusion over the names “Pukerua” and “Pukerau.” He had left a train at Johnsonville and was looking for Pukerua when he really wanted to find Pukerau. He had become lost in the hills and suffered heart failure following exposure.

On Thursday 1 November 1923 the name of Pukerua station was officially changed to Pukerua Bay.