Wellington Harbour is the large natural harbour on the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island. New Zealand's capital city, Wellington, is located on its western side. The harbour, the sea area bounded by a line between Pencarrow and Palmer Heads to Petone foreshore, was Port Nicholson until 1984.
In the Māori language the harbour is known as Te Whanganui-a-Tara the great harbour of Tara. Another Māori name for Wellington, Pōneke, is said to be a rendition of Port Nick though a 2005 dictionary has said it was a transliteration of Port Nicholson.