Orokawa Bay is generally understood to be named from a Māori place name, but the exact origin or meaning is not clearly established in the sources I found. A recent local post notes the bay’s story and contrasts the naming of nearby Waihī, while official tourism and DOC pages focus on the place itself rather than a name explanation.

What’s known

  • The bay is called Ōrokawa Bay in official and local references.
  • Nearby Waihī is explained as meaning “rising water,” but that explanation applies to the beach stream name, not Orokawa Bay.
  • I did not find a reliable source in the available results that gives a definitive translation or namesake for “Orokawa” itself.

Best answer

So the safest answer is: it appears to be a Māori place name, but I can’t पुष्टिively say it was named after a specific person or event from the sources available.

TL;DR: Orokawa Bay is a Māori place name, but the exact naming origin wasn’t confirmed in the sources I found.