Welcome to Rangiwhakaoma, or Castlepoint.
The name 'Castle Point' was given to the area where the lighthouse now stands by Captain Cook in 1770, as it reminded him of the battlements of a castle. To local maori this area is known as Rangiwhakaoma and was named hundreds of years before Cook's visit. It is said to mean "the place to stand to see the running sky" and relates to the speed of the clouds as they pass by here. Another theory around the name Rangiwhakaoma is that it was the name of an ancestor who was dropped off here by Kupe the explorer during his legendary chase of the giant wheke (octopus) which had hidden in the large cave (You can explore this cave below the lighthouse). The large hill at the southern end of the beach is known as Matira. When approaching Matira (aka Castle Rock) from the seaward side a mans face becomes visible, especially in afternoon shadows. This is said to be the face of Rangiwhakaoma. Beware if climbing Matira as there are sheer drops onto the rocks below on the seaward side. Also in January 2014 a large section collapsed into the ocean below following a nearby earthquake. Below Castle Rock/Matira is a small sheltered bay ideal for children. Cook named this Deliverance Cove and to Maori it is Taurepi.
Atop the reef is the Castlepoint Lighthouse. The light was built in 1913 and was originally fueled by oil. In 1954 the oil lamp was replaced with an electric one powered by a local diesel generator. This was subsequently replaced by a connection to the mains grid in 1961. Completed on 12 January 1913, it was one of the last manned lights built in New Zealand, but was fully automated in 1988. The lighthouse is built out of steel sheets riveted together. This is an unusual method of construction for a lighthouse and the only one so built in New Zealand.