The Maori called it Aparima but when European whalers arrived in 1835, they named it after a prominent Maori fisherman who lived near the mouth of the estuary and whom they all called Jacob. Jacob's Creek was a whaling station at first, then became much larger fishing settlement. In 1858 the locals voted to adopt another name for their town. It became Riverton. Now, since the Ngai Tahu Claims settlement in 1998, the town has dual identification and is officially known as Riverton - Aparima.
Recent stories from Afternoons
Get the RNZ app
for easy access to all your favourite programmes
