Near Pōrangahau in Central Hawke's Bay is an unassuming hill known as "Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu" - the longest place name in the world.
It 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 Pōrangahau, 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 Māori flute.
A sign displaying the name is situated about five kilometres along Wimbledon Road in Pōrangahau - a great photo opportunity (as per above image).
The actual location is on private land, so permission is required before you can walk to it - click here for details of tour opportunities.
- this information is published with the permission of Landeater Ltd, guardians for the Longest Place Name in the World.