Nau Mai Town
Join Justine Murray as she takes us on a haerenga around Aotearoa to learn about place names and their origins.
Episodes
December 21, 2023 • 12 mins
It was thanks to the marketing genius of a land agent that resulted in a small Kāpiti Coast town being called Raumati, which means summer but does the town live up to that name?
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May 18, 2023 • 13 mins
Rāhui Pōkeka is the original name of Huntly and it's based on the story of a rangatira who placed a rāhui on the rivers in order to replenish the tuna.
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May 11, 2023 • 12 mins
Timaru is a small town in South Canterbury which has two lesser-known names - Te Maru and Te Tihi o Maru. Justine Murray finds out more.
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May 4, 2023 • 11 mins
Petone is a seaside town in Lower Hutt known for harbour views and niche shopping. Its proper name 'Pito-One' relates to a special area on the beach.
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April 27, 2023 • 13 mins
Lady on the Rock is a bronze statue depicting one of the first women to arrive in the Bay of Plenty. Justine Murray visits WhakatÄne to learn about the town's history - and scores some delicious drive-thru hÄngÄ« on the way.
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April 20, 2023 • 13 mins
Paeroa is world-famous in Aotearoa for its mineral water, but do you know the Coromandel town's longer name?
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April 17, 2023 • 57 secs
Nau Mai Town is back with host Justine Murray to find out the stories and meaning of place names around Aotearoa.
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October 13, 2022 • 13 mins
A once-thriving sawmilling industry on the outskirts of Tauranga would inspire the naming of the Tauranga suburb 'Tauriko'.
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October 6, 2022 • 13 mins
Such was the respect that Māori explorer Ihenga had for his uncle and father-in-law Kahumatamomoe, he named two lakes in his honour. That's just part of the story behind the name Rotorua.
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September 29, 2022 • 13 mins
There was a mix-up of words when James Cook came up with the name 'Tolaga' for the small east coast town of Tolaga Bay, but the locals choose to call it Uawa.
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September 22, 2022 • 11 mins
Paraparaumu is a beautiful town on the Kāpiti Coast so why would you want to call the town 'Pram'? Justine Murray finds out the story behind the name.
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September 15, 2022 • 12 mins
If you say it out loud, the word Kurow sounds a lot like Te Kohurau. That's because the latter is the original name of a small South Canterbury town named after a tupuna (ancestor).
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September 9, 2022 • 1 min
Ever wondered about the stories behind some of our place names? Justine Murray finds out more from those who live in heartland Aotearoa.
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