Taumata, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu |
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Sign on Wimbledon Road, Pōrangahau, displaying the 85-character name. The summit of the hill is at centre in the far distance.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 305 m (1,001 ft) |
| Naming | |
| English translation | The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the slider, climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled about, played his kōauau (flute) to his loved one. |
| Language of name | Māori |
| Geography | |
| Location | Near Pōrangahau, Hawke's Bay |
| Country | New Zealand |
This amazing hill in New Zealand has one of the longest place names in the world! It's called Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu. You can find it near Pōrangahau in southern Hawke's Bay.
The hill stands 305 metres (1,001 ft) above sea level. Because its name is so long, people often shorten it to Taumata. This special Māori name has 85 characters. It is even listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest place name. Some people even use slightly different, longer versions of the name!
Contents
Discovering the Longest Name
This hill's full name, Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, tells a story. It means "the summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the slider, climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled about, played his kōauau (flute) to his loved one."
Different Ways to Say It
Did you know there are even longer versions of this name? One version has 92 letters! Another, even longer, has 105 letters. This super-long name describes Tamatea as someone "who was blown hither from afar, grazed his knees climbing mountains, fell on the earth, and encircled the land – to his beloved one."
Over the years, the official name of the hill has changed. In 1929, maps showed a shorter 28-character name. Later, in 1941, the Honorary Geographic Board of New Zealand gave it a 57-character name. This became the official name in 1948. Today, the official name includes special Māori markings called macrons.
The Story of Tamatea
The long name of the hill tells us about a very important Māori chief and explorer named Tamatea-pōkai-whenua. This means "Tamatea, the explorer of the land." He was the father of Kahungunu, who is an ancestor of the Ngāti Kahungunu tribe, also known as an iwi.
Tamatea's Amazing Journeys
Tamatea's adventures are famous in many Māori legends. He explored many parts of New Zealand. In the Northland area, stories say he explored the Hokianga and Kaipara harbours. In the Bay of Plenty Region, he had a son named Ranginui. Ranginui became an ancestor of the Ngāti Ranginui tribe in Tauranga.
Legends from the East Coast of the North Island also tell of Tamatea's travels. He explored places like Ahuriri, Heretaunga, Māhia, Pōrangahau, Tūranga-nui, and Wairoa. He even journeyed to Lake Taupō! The Ōtamatea River is named after him, and there's a suburb in Napier called Tamatea too.
Stories from the South Island say that Tamatea sailed down the east coast. His canoe was sadly wrecked in the far south. Legend says his canoe then turned into the Tākitimu mountain range. After this, Tamatea returned to the North Island, and travelled along the Whanganui River.
See also
In Spanish: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu para niños
- List of long place names
- Longest place names in English
