Gummies Bush is a farming locality 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of the Aparima River, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) north of Riverton, and 18 kilometres (11 mi) south from Otautau. It is said to be named after whaler and later pig-farmer James Leader, nicknamed "Gummie" because he had no teeth. Leader had a camp in the bush in this location. To Māori, the area was known as Opuaki. It was apparently named after a person, Puaki, a word which means "to come forth in position," or "to come forth in language – that is to utter.