achilles point is regarded as the rocky promontory on the east side of ladies bay, but the name can also indicate the whole headland between st. heliers and the tamaki river estuary. it offers great views of the waitematā harbour, and the gulf islands. the area used to be called te pane o horoiwi (the head of horoiwi), after one of the chiefs of the tanui canoe. in 1940 it was named achilles point in honour of the new zealand battleship "hms achilles" and her crew. the "achilles" opened fire on the german cruiser "admiral graf spee" in the south atlantic on 13 december 1939. in doing so she became the first new zealand unit to strike a blow at the enemy in world war ii, and the first new zealand warship to take part in a naval battle. this confrontation off argentina was later called battle of the river plate, the first major naval engagement of world war ii, during which the "achilles", defeated the "admiral graf spee".