South Taranaki Bight
The South Taranaki Bight is the name given to the large bay which extends south and east from the south coast of Taranaki in New Zealand's North Island. With more symmetry than poetry or originality, it is matched by the North Taranaki Bight to the north of Cape Egmont.
The size of the bight depends to a large extent on the source referring to it. Strict definitions refer to it stretching from the mouth of the Kaupokonui Stream south of Mount Taranaki to the mouth of the Patea River. More loose descriptions of the bight, however, consider the entire lower North Island west coast as far as Waikanae on the Kapiti Coast, as being part of the bight. The bight once used to be a calving ground for large number of Southern Right Whales in winter and spring, however their number was extensively reduced by whalings and only a handful of cows visit this area regularly today due to their low number. This water is also confirmed to be the only known feeding ground for Blue Whales or Pygmy Blue Whales in New Zealand.
Coordinates: 39°40′S 174°10′E / 39.667°S 174.167°E
