Portage Road in the Ōtāhuhu suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, follows the path of Te Tō Waka, one of the Māori canoe portages between the Tāmaki River (an arm of the Hauraki Gulf) and the Manukau Harbour, which facilitated access between the eastern and western sides of the North Island.

The first canoe to reach the isthmus was the "Tainui" which stayed at Otahuhu while the Maori Chief Taikehu carried out reconnaissance from a hill top, probably Mount Richmond.

The waters of the Manukau Harbour were seen and the canoe was dragged overland and went on her way, calling at Mokau and finally then to her last resting place at Kawhia.

In later years, canoes were frequently taken across the portage at Otahuhu, and this practice was followed with boats and small vessels even in Pakeha times.

Later a canal was planned to link the Tasman and Pacific Oceans, and land was reserved to that end.