Ngā Rā-a-Kupe, Rock formation near Cape Palliser, South Wairarapa District, New Zealand

Ngā Rā-a-Kupe is a single flat triangular ridge of sedimentary rock rising about 100 metres from the coast just over 2 km northwest of Cape Palliser. Its smooth face, roughly 120 metres wide, slopes at about 45 degrees toward the sea, resembling a canoe sail. The rock was thrust up by an earthquake.

The formation's Māori name, Ngā Rā-a-Kupe ('the sails of Kupe'), comes from a legend in which the explorer Kupe and his companion Ngake raced to make canoe sails; the sails were hung out to dry and became this rock. On 7 March 2023 the name was officially gazetted as Ngā Rā-a-Kupe under the Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua Claims Settlement Act 2022.

Local Māori communities connect these cliffs to their ancestors and the legendary navigator Kupe through stories passed down over generations. The striking rock shapes serve as visible links to their cultural heritage.

The rocks are visible from several viewing points along the coastal road, with designated parking areas providing safe spots for viewing and photography. The best time to visit is during clear weather when the rocks are most visible and the road remains easily accessible.

The rocks change their appearance throughout the day as sunlight moves across their surfaces, creating different shadow patterns on the angular faces. Early morning and evening light make the formations appear particularly striking when rays hit the edges at low angles.