Last week (11-18 September) was Māori Language Week, and we couldn’t recognise it fully as a school because we were knee-deep in exams. However, we didn’t want to let such an important week go unacknowledged, so Eddie Hudson, Head of our Te Reo Māori department, sent out a fun challenge asking if anyone could say this verrrry long place name correctly. Can you pronounce it? It’s a beauty!

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu 

What does it mean?

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.

 Where is it?

It is a hill near Pōrangahau, south of Waipukurau in southern Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.