Te Whanganui-a-Tara

Te Whanganui a Tara is a Maori name for Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Originally it described the actual harbour (today officially known as Wellington Harbour), but the term has come to be accepted as the name of the city as well. It translates as The great harbour of Tara, which refers to chief Tara who Maori tradition says visited the area in the 12th century and decided to stay.

Related Topics:
Maori - Wellington - New Zealand - Wellington Harbour - 12th century

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Although people are said to have lived there since Kupe visited in the 10th century, it is Tara who is remembered, both in the name of the city and the name of the first iwi tribe to settle there permanently, Ngai Tara.

Related Topics:
Kupe - Iwi

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Te Whanganui a Tara has superseded an earlier name for the region, Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui which means The head of Maui?s fish. According to Maori legend, a giant fish was hooked and pulled to the surface by Polynesian navigator Maui and the fish turned into land which became the North Island. It is not known when Te Whanganui a Tara replaced Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui as the local name. The older name is still used in some circumstances, such as in the official Maori name of Victoria University of Wellington.

Related Topics:
Maui - North Island - Victoria University of Wellington

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Another Maori name for Wellington is Poneke, a Maorification and shortening of the name "Port Nicholson". This has been used by the City Council which claims the name is much older, coming from p? + neke meaning night movement.

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