English & Maori are New Zealand's official languages. Here are some common New Zealand terms that your may come across during your travels.
Many place names are taken directly from the Maori language.
- Aoraki/Mount Cook: This is New Zealand’s highest peak at 3754 metres. Translated as ‘Cloud-piercer’ or ‘Cloud in the Sky’.
- Waitangi: Place near Paihia in the Bay of Islands. The literal translation is wai = water and tangi = noisy or weeping.
- Mount Maunganui: This translates into ‘Tall Mountain’. It is often referred to as ‘The Mount’ by locals.
- White Island: Its Maori name is ‘Whakaari’,when translated can be interpreted as ‘uplifted to view’.
- Waitomo/Waitomo Caves: The translation for this is Wai = water and tomo = shaft.
- Whakarewarewa: Full name is Whakarewarewatanga-o-te-ope-a-Wahiao! It relates to the uprising of the army of Wahiao.
- Wakatipu: This is a contraction of ‘Waka-tipu-wai-maori’ which translates to the trough of fresh water where the giant lies.