Aramoana is a place of cultural significance for Tē Rūnanga o Ōtākou. The location is where sea trails were linked to land trails in the mobile lifestyle of early Māori.

In the pursuit of mahika kai (the gathering of forest, freshwater and marine resources), Māori travelled great distances and depended on seasonal access to resources throughout the region. Otago Harbour provided an important base to return to, with access to abundant barracouta/mangā and mackerel/hauture for drying in late summer and a continual supply of cockles/tuangi.

Aramoana, which means ‘pathway to the sea’, was also the place where Ngāi Tahu whānau crossed the mouth of the harbour to travel north through to Pūrākaunui.

The channel that allows ships to enter Otago Harbour between the sandspit and Harrington Point is known as Huikaau. This is in recognition of the mixing of waters that occurs where the ocean currents meet.

The flat land between the marshes and the hills was the proposed site of an aluminium smelter in the 1970s and early 1980s. The development attracted nationwide attention. The “Save Aramoana Campaign” launched to stop the smelter going ahead. Fought by residents and others throughout New Zealand who opposed the development in this important environment. The campaign eventually succeeded in defeating the proposal.

Today, Aramoana Saltmarsh is recognised as an area of national significance.