Nau Mai Town

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.

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.

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.

Paeroa is world-famous in Aotearoa for its mineral water, but do you know the Coromandel town's longer name?

Nau Mai Town is back with host Justine Murray to find out the stories and meaning of place names around Aotearoa.

A once-thriving sawmilling industry on the outskirts of Tauranga would inspire the naming of the Tauranga suburb 'Tauriko'.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Ever wondered about the stories behind some of our place names? Justine Murray finds out more from those who live in heartland Aotearoa.