Maori place names

Maori Place Names in Hawke’s Bay

Walt: link meanings to Maori place names in Hawke’s Bay.

Below is a list of Maori words and their meanings.  

Look closely at them and write the meanings against the placenames.

aute      mulberry tree onga onga      nettle awa           channel

pa       fortified village haka               war dance pawa bird snare

haroto  pool po   night          hou small tree

pohue climbing plant          huka   spray pukurau mushroom

kare rippling putorino    flute rere flying

kakaho toe toe feathers rangahau    pursuit roa long

kowhai           native flower manga              stream kuri dog

takapau flax sleeping mat te    the wai water

marae assembly ground mo      used for tutae dung

marama moonlit water mata    headland nui big

toka rock totara         native tree moana lake/sea

puke hill maunga    mountain whanga bay

ara path roto    lake                    motu island

rangi sky papa    flat land whenua land

ana cave one    beach tapu sacred

karekare surf, rough sands ao    cloud puke hill

Now write the definitions of these places found in Hawke’s Bay.

Wairoa / long water

Mohaka / used for war dance

Waikaremoana / sea of rippling water

Waimarama / water mouth

Maraenui / big assemble ground

Maraekakaho / toe toe feathers ground

Te Pohue / the pohue

Waipawa / water bird snare

Tutaekuri / dog dung

Te Awa / te channel

Challenge: long water / waiora

Now find the meaning of three more place names in Hawke’s Bay.

Hamowana /

Use this website link to help you to find more details and names of places within Aotearoa/New Zealand.