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Description
Island in Wellington Harbour / Port Nicholson. Feature shown on: NZTopo50-BQ32 563309; Matiu/Somes Island was originally named by the Polynesian explorer Kupe, who, according to Māori Tradition was the discoverer of Wellington Harbour. The island was named after one of Kupe's daughters. The name Somes is after Joseph Somes, Deputy Governor of New Zealand, from whom the crew of the Tory (who named the island Somes) purchased their ship. The name 'Somes Island' was given by Captain Edward Main Chaffers and Colonel William Wakefield whilst charting 'Port Nicholson' in the barque, Tory, over a two week period from 20 September 1839. [Reference: 'Put Him in a Longboat' by Doug Edwards (1989), page 48].; 'Named by Kupe after one of his daughters or nieces. The crew of the Tory bestowed the English name, in honour of either New Zealand Company deputy-governor Joseph Somes or his ship-building firm. The Tory had been bought from Somes in 1838.' Source: Dowling, Peter & A.W. Reed, New Zealand Place Names, 2025.
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