A Name That Stretches Across the Landscape
In the rolling hills near Pōrangahau, in southern Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, stands a 305-meter elevation known for more than its height. Its name—Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu—has drawn global attention.
With 85 characters, it is recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest place name in any English-speaking country. The name, often shortened to Taumata, is of Māori origin and tells a story encoded in its length.
The Meaning Behind the Syllables
The name loosely translates to: “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.”
Variants of the name exist, including a 92-letter and a 105-letter version, each adding more detail to Tamatea’s feats. Historical maps from 1929 used a much shorter 28-character form. The 57-character version adopted by the Honorary Geographic Board of New Zealand in 1941 has been officially used since 1948.
Tamatea: The Man Behind the Hill
Tamatea-pōkai-whenua, the explorer whose name shapes the hill’s identity, appears across Māori oral traditions. He was the father of Kahungunu, the ancestor of the Ngāti Kahungunu iwi.
Tamatea is credited with traveling widely across New Zealand, including the Northland harbors, the Bay of Plenty, Ahuriri, Māhia, Pōrangahau, and as far south as the Tākitimu mountains. The Ōtamatea River bears his name. According to southern legends, his canoe was wrecked and became the mountain range, before he returned north via the Whanganui River.
In Songs, Ads, and a Tennis Star’s Memory
The name’s complexity and rhythm have given it a place in popular culture. It featured in a 1960 song by New Zealand singer Peter Cape and in Quantum Jump’s 1976 single “The Lone Ranger.”
It has appeared in advertisements, including a Mountain Dew jingle and a SEEK Learning campaign in Australia. In an unusual twist, tennis champion Martina Navratilova reportedly learned to pronounce the name at the age of ten.
Still Standing, Still Named
Today, Taumata remains a navigational landmark and a curiosity known far beyond New Zealand. Its signs have changed over time, and its name varies depending on the version cited.
But all forms pay tribute to Tamatea and his storied travels—etched syllable by syllable into one of the most linguistically remarkable place names on Earth.
In New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay region lies a hill with a name so long it holds a Guinness World Record.
The name tells the story of a Māori explorer, Tamatea, and has fascinated mapmakers, linguists, and even celebrities around the world for decades…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/BOzIkOuEbR
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) July 29, 2025