The port-to-port pathway around Otago Harbour was given the name by Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou.
Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou spokeswoman Megan Pōtiki said the name was given by the former Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu chief executive Tahu Pōtiki before he died.
"Tahu Pōtiki named this in 2019, not long before he passed away, therefore it is important that we acknowledge him as the harbour path nears completion."
As well as Te Aka Ōtākou, Mr Pōtiki coined other names for each side of the harbour.
The northern or State Highway 88 trail would be known as Te Ara Moana, The Ocean Path, while the eastern or Otago Peninsula trail was Te Awa Ōtākou, The Ocean River.
The naming announcement came as Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency neared completion of construction on the Port Chalmers to St Leonards section of shared path.
This part of the pathway was expected to cost between $37 million and $43 million.
Agency regional relationships director James Caygill said the Port Chalmers to St Leonards part of the path presented many challenges in a demanding coastal marine environment.
The project used more than 1600 timber piles and in various locations the ground conditions were not suitable for driving piles, which resulted in a redesign of installation method.
"It involved reclaiming areas of the harbour, realigning sections of the main trunk rail line, building several major retaining walls, and a new 600m plus boardwalk to carry the cycle path around the edge of Blanket Bay.
"It is an amazing project which will benefit people across many generations, and it will be open by the end of July."
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said he was also excited to see the Dunedin City Council’s contribution to the wider project.
"It’s fantastic to see so many people already using the shared path on a regular basis."
The Peninsula Connection shared pathway through to Portobello is expected to be completed by mid-2024.
