A small settlement, Ngawi, is situated near Cape Palliser, where the main income comes from crayfish (southern rock lobster) fishing.
[2] Māori history and the Kupe legend both feature Cape Palliser.
[1] On 7 March 2023, the name of the cape was officially gazetted as Cape Palliser / Mātakitaki-a-Kupe, following the enactment of the Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua Claims Settlement Act 2022.
[4] The Māori-language portion of the name refers to Kupe gazing out to sea from the location.
[3] Cape Palliser is home to a permanent fur seal colony.