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Kōrero: Hawke’s Bay places

Longest place name in the world

Audio file

A hill near the coastal settlement of Pōrangahau is believed to have the longest place name in the world. The name is sung at the start of this waiata (song) and is followed by an account – in Māori – of the story behind it about the explorer Tamatea, who climbed the hill and played his flute to his beloved.

Waiata performed by Tamatea Ariki Nui. Sound file from Radio Kahungunu. This sound file may not be reused without permission.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Emily Tutaki

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Kerryn Pollock, Hawke’s Bay places – Southern coast, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/music/24219/longest-place-name-in-the-world (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Kerryn Pollock, i tāngia i te 19 August 2009, updated 30 November 2015.