The bay on New Zealand's North Island named by James Cook for its abundant supplies is the Bay of Plenty. Cook gave the name after encountering Māori communities whose hospitality and provisions contrasted with an earlier, more difficult stop on the voyage.
The bay occupies a broad stretch of coastline on the North Island's northeast side, running from the Coromandel Peninsula toward Cape Runaway. Its shores include important centres such as Tauranga, Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki, and the region is known for fertile farmland, orchards, beaches and a mild climate.
Cook's naming is often paired with Poverty Bay, farther south near present-day Gisborne. He named Poverty Bay after his crew had difficulty obtaining food and supplies there. The contrasting names preserve two very different encounters during Cook's first voyage through New Zealand waters.
The bay also contains offshore volcanic features, including Whakaari / White Island, New Zealand's most active volcano. That volcano lies about 48 kilometres offshore from the mainland and became the site of a fatal eruption in 2019. Despite the historical name, the Bay of Plenty refers to the wider coastal region and water body, not simply to one harbour or city.