Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu

19/01/2018

The longest place name in New Zealand.
Many would have learned this in primary school back in the day – but who can still pronounce it without hesitation?

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauatamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu sign as it was in 1948

Spelt slightly differently now the place name 'Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu' is one of the longest place names in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records. It was given by the local Maori people, Ngati Kere to a hill to celebrate their ancestor Tamatea Pokai Whenua. The meaning of the sign is, "The hilltop, where Tamatea with big knees, conqueror of mountains, eater of land, traveller over land and sea, played his koauau to his beloved".

Text and image - Archives New Zealand Reference: AAQT 6539 A377

29/12/2015

The longest place name in the World is in New Zealand!

Near Porangahau in Hawke’s Bay is an unassuming hill known as "Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu", which translates into English as "the place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as 'landeater’, played his flute to his loved one." Locals simply call it Taumata Hill.

Tamatea was a famous chief and warrior. One day, while travelling through the back of Porangahau, he encountered another tribe and had to fight them to get past. During the fight his brother was killed. Tamatea was so grieved over the loss of his brother that he stayed at the battle site for some days. Each morning he would sit on the hill and play a lament on what is called the koauau or Maori flute.

Hawke's Bay New Zealand

05/10/2015

23/09/2015

Photo credit to Caroline Bradley