The cluster of rocks that is Barrett Reef (often known as Barrett's Reef) is one of the most hazardous reefs in New Zealand. It lies on the western side of the entrance of Wellington Harbour, on the approaches to the city of Wellington, at coordinates . The reef is named after Richard (Dicky) Barrett (1807–1847), a whaler and trader. Its Māori name is Tangihanga-a-Kupe, (Mourning of Kupe), which may refer to the reef's similarity to a line of mourners at a tangi, the sad sound of the water around the reef, or Kupe crying for people he left behind in his travels. The reef is popular with recreational divers. Dangerous entrance The reef, much of which is exposed even at high tide, is located to the west of the two-kilometre-wide channel that links Cook Strait with Wellington Harbour, close to the shore of the Miramar Peninsula. The shipping channel lies between the reef and Pencarrow to the east. The area to the west between the reef and Point Dorset on the Miramar Peninsula is known as Chaffers Passage, after the captain of the Tory, a ship sent to New Zealand by the New Zealand Company in 1839. Due to the channelling effect of Cook Strait, which lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, the currents are strong and fickle and gales are common. Add to this the volume of traffic which uses the shipping channel (including several crossings daily of the inter-island ferries to Picton), and it is not surprising that the reef has a lengthy roll-call of shipwrecks. History of vessels damaged, stranded, or wrecked on Barrett Reef 1848 Subraon, barque, bound for Sydney on Barrett Reef. This vessel was carrying people away from Wellington on account of the Awatere valley, Marlborough earthquake (7.5) 16 Oct 1848; they were fleeing to Sydney. 1850 Ship, Inconstant struck Barrett Reef. The vessel was afterwards purchased by John Plimmer and used as a store, called "Plimmer's Ark," where the Bank of New Zealand (now the 'Old Bank Arcade') was later built. 1866 Tui, iron steamer, wrecked, north end of Barrett Reef. 1871 Lady Bird, schooner (3-masted), 303 tons stranded on the south end of Barrett Reef. 1874 Earl of South Esk, wooden barque, 336 tons. Became a total loss 1874 Cynthia, schooner, 63 tons. Stranded; partial loss. Abreast of north end of Barrett Reef 1876 Hunter, schooner, 90 tons. Stranded;