Spotlight on NZ

Eat your heart out Wales!

Frances Manwaring | 1 July 2009 | 10 Comments

There we were thinking that with 58 characters, I think - got lost at the third "go" in the "gogogoch" - aka "The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio's of the red cave", was the longest placename in the world.  Imagine our surprise to discover that New Zealand actually has one longer!

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenua -kitanatahu, at 85 characters (or 92 depending on which version is used), is acknowledged by the Guinness Book of Records to be one of the longest place names in the world. In the mind of the locals there's no question that it's the world record holder although apparently there's one in Thailand that's longer, much, much longer,  but it's so long it would use up this whole blog post and what would be the point in that?  In any case, if Guiness doesn't acknowledge it, why should we?

 

Anyway, back to 'Taumata' as it is familiarly known.  It's the Maori (New Zealand's indigenous people) name for a hill 305 metres high near Porangahau in the North Island region of Hawke's Bay, more widely known for it's award winning wines, great food and amazing beaches.  I understand the name means "The place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed, and swallowed mountains, known as land eater, played his flute to his loved one."

According to Maori legends, Tamatea-pōkai-whenua (Tamatea the explorer of the land) was the father of Kahungunu, ancestor of the Ngāti Kahungunu iwi (tribe) Mention of Tamatea's explorations of the land occur not only in Ngāti Kahungunu legends, but also in the traditions of other iwi around the country. 

The action at Taumata consists of a brisk walk up and down (formerly you could be chauffered up and back down the hill in SUVs) after which you can opt for a 'collectors' Bottle of Longest Place Name Hawke's Bay Chardonnay or Cabernet Merlot at the local hostelry.  Who could resist?   Happily there is a conveniently placed sign marking the hill, although it has to be said the Welsh are much better at cashing in on their long-named national treasure.  They run to a website, which positions itself as the 'longest single word (i.e. no hyphens) .com name in the world.   And we've only got a signpost!

It's not only Maori names that bestow a rich exoticism to the New Zealand land and seascape.  We owe many of place names to the early European pioneers, many of whom were farmers, miners and whalers.   Consider the drama that might have been involved in naming Cape Kidnappers, the sentiments of the people responsible for Mount Aspiring and The Remarkables and the onomatopoeic nature of a name like the Noisies for an island cluster with crashing surf breaking...er...noisily.  Many names were simply practical - Ship Cove in the Queen Charlotte Sounds, where Your LinkCaptain James Cook moored on his voyage of discovery.  Similarly the Ship at Anchor, a peak from where the namers presumably could see....well, their ship at anchor. 

The hybrid quality of this cocktail of Maori and European place names reflects the duality that is contemporary New Zealand.   Why not come and see for yourself?

 

Tags: Place names, New Zealand place names, World's longest place name