Maori words and phrases

Pronunciation of vowel sounds

Greetings/responses

Protocol

Food

People

Clothing/weapons/transport

Buildings

Rotorua lakes and place names

Means the plopping noise made by thermal activity in the vicinity of Te Whakarewarewa.

Is the transliteration of the biblical name Smyrna.

A young maori maiden, daughter of a very influential chief, who fell in love with Tutanekai. Read the full story on the Maori legends page.

The famous island on the centre of Lake Rotorua originally known as Te Motutapu-a-Tinirau (Tinirau's Sacred Island). During ancient warfare an important chief was killed by being struck in the face with a sharp digging stick (ko) which disfigured his distinctive moko (facial tattoo) and thus the island became commonly known as Mokoia. Mokoia is a play on the words moko and ko.

Means To drink from a calabash. So called from an event in which the younger explorer chief, Ihenga, met an attractive fairy maiden (patupaiarehe) on the mountain who offered him a drink from a calabash.

Means girl cut off (death of the girl). The name given to a stone once standing in that area, erected by the chief Ihenga in the memory of his wife.

Sweet food. A small lake south of the city where many cultivations were once established.

Means The place of laughing. The full name is: Te Moana-i-kataina-e-Te Rangitakaroro (The sea where Te Rangiatakaroro laughed). Te Rangiatakaroro was a great chief of the area.

A lake to the south-east of Rotorua. The origin of the name seems lost but presumably has to do with a demon seen flying in the area.

Means turbid lake. Though a particularly interesting and picturesque lake, its waters seem always murky, hence the name.

Means small lake. Connected to Lake Rotorua with the Ohau Channel, the lake appeared small from the point it was first seen by its discoverer, hence its common name, Rotoiti (small lake). However, its full original name is Te Rotokite-a-Ihenga-ariki-ai-Kahumatamomoe, the lake seen by Ihenga and dedicated to his chief, Kahumatamomoe.

Means fresh-water mussel lake. Noted for the fine mussels (Hyridella menziesi) found there. Commonly known as the Green Lake.

Means sour Lake. A small lake of still water, close to Rotorua Airport.

Means clean lake. Rotoma is noted for the clarity of its waters.

Means warm lake. Formed largely as a result of the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886, this lake has some spectacular activity around its shores.

Some say the name is derived from it being the second (rua = two) lake found by Maori discover Ihenga.

Means burnt peak. Mountain top bearing traces of volcanic fire. Also applies to red scoria.

Means sacred image. A reference to an incident in ancient times in which a young woman lost her precious greenstone ornament (hei tiki) while bathing in this lale, now popularly known as the Blue Lake.

A young man who lived on Mokoia Island who fell in love with Hinemoa. Read the full story on the Maori legends page.

Means to rise up, to soar, to float. In full, the name of this thermal area is Te-Whakarewarewawatanga-o-te-ope-taua-a-Wahiao (The uprising or actions of the war party of Wahiao).

General

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