Woodside Bay directly faces Mareatai on the mainland. According to a legend that dates back to around 1280 AD, an entourage of Maraetai Māori, led by their esteemed chief Maeāea, graciously accepted an invitation to partake in a grand feast hosted by the Waiheke people at Omaru. Embarking on their canoes, known as Waka, they navigated across Te Maraetai, the encompassing sea that separates the mainland from Waiheke. However, upon reaching the shores and setting foot on the beach, they were suddenly ensnared by hand nets and mercilessly attacked with spears, as was the prevailing method of warfare during that era. Tragically, not a single soul returned to recount the harrowing tale of the ill-fated expedition. Nevertheless, subsequent retaliatory raids from the mainland ensued, as a response to this treacherous act. The exact site of the heart-wrenching massacre is now referred to as Te Rore A Maeāea, meaning “the snaring of Maeāea.”
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