Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, also known briefly as Taumata or Taumata Hill, is a small hill located in the Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand’s North Island, near Pōrangahau. The hill rises approximately 305 metres above sea level and is known for having one of the longest geographical names in the world. This 85-character Māori name has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest place name in the world. Due to its unique length, it has become a point of interest for geography enthusiasts and tourists. Locals commonly refer to the hill by the shortened name “Taumata” in everyday speech.

Taumata Hill is situated in the southern part of the Hawke’s Bay region on New Zealand’s North Island, close to the settlement of Pōrangahau. The surrounding landscape consists of rural hilly terrain.

^{Taumata Sign. (}flickr⁾

^{Taumata Direction Sign. (}flickr⁾

The hill is located approximately 55 kilometres south of the settlement of Waipukurau and about 115 kilometres southwest of the region’s major city, Napier. The land on which the hill stands is private property; currently owned by the Scott family, who act as its guardians (in Māori, kaitiaki). Visitors typically come to see the roadside sign along Wimbledon Road, which connects Pōrangahau and Wimbledon, bearing the hill’s 85-letter name—a popular photo spot. Access to the hill itself on foot requires permission from the landowner. Although the hill rises only 1000 feet (305 metres) above sea level, its fame stems entirely from the length of its name.

^{The World’s Longest Place Name: Taumata (}flickr⁾

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, with its 85-letter name, is one of the longest geographical place names known worldwide. This name has been officially recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest place name in the world. It also holds the top position in World Atlas’s list of the “Top 10 Longest Place Names in the World.” According to this list, the name of this hill in New Zealand is longer than the famous 58-letter village name in Wales, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. (That Welsh place holds the title of the world’s longest settlement name, but in terms of total letters, Taumata’s name is longer.)

Because of its unique name, the local community has taken steps to protect it. Under the Wai 262 claim (related to flora, fauna, and Māori knowledge rights) of the Treaty of Waitangi, the hill’s name was registered as a trademark in 2006. This registration aims to prevent unauthorized or inappropriate use of the name, thereby safeguarding the cultural heritage and potential economic benefits of the local people. Today, the name and significance of the hill are recognized and preserved both as an official world record and as a cultural value.

The name Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, located in New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay region and recognized as one of the world’s longest single place names, is a Māori sentence that recounts a historical event and person associated with the hill’s naming. In local Māori culture, it refers to a hill of historical and mythological significance. The name can be translated as: “The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed, and swallowed mountains, the traveler, played his flute for his beloved.” The figure referred to here, Tamatea, is a legendary Māori chief, warrior, and explorer said to have lived in the 18th century.

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One of Tamatea’s full titles is Tamatea-pōkai-whenua (Tamatea the Land-Traveler), and according to legend, he journeyed from one end of New Zealand to the other and is credited with naming many places. The epithet “big knees” is a descriptive feature from the legend. The origin of the name is linked to the story of Tamatea losing his brother during a battle.

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The image depicts the event that gave rise to this long place name. The story begins when Tamatea, during a journey near Porangahau, engaged in conflict with another tribe. In the battle, Tamatea’s brother was killed. Grief-stricken, Tamatea remained at the battlefield for days, sitting each morning on this nearby hill and playing a lament on his Māori flute (koauau). The place name means “the summit where Tamatea, the large-bodied and renowned chief, played his flute in memory of his brother,” and holds cultural significance as a symbol of oral Māori tradition and local memory.

To ensure the memory of this place and event would not be forgotten, the Māori people named the hill with this lengthy description. The name functions as a sentence that recounts Tamatea’s titles and actions, honoring his memory. Some sources indicate that there exists an even longer 105-letter version of the name in Māori, offering more detailed descriptions of Tamatea’s attributes. However, the official and commonly used form remains the 85-letter version.

Due to its extraordinary length, Taumata Hill has frequently been referenced in popular culture and the media. The name has been used humorously and as a curiosity in various television advertisements, songs, and printed publications. For example, promotional films and advertisements themed around the “World’s Longest Place Name” have introduced this intriguing corner of New Zealand to the world. The name has also inspired several songs and gained fame through humorous or educational music videos in which it is repeatedly chanted.

On social media, videos taken beside the Taumata sign have become popular. Visitors share clips of themselves attempting to pronounce the name or playing cheerful music featuring the name in the background. The hill’s name has also appeared on various commercial products such as clothing brands, suggesting its use as a brand element. It has even been referenced humorously in an animated film or cartoon. All these examples suggest that the name Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu has captured global curiosity and become a cultural phenomenon.

^{Taumata (}flickr⁾

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu Hill is a tourist attraction due to the length of its name. In particular, the 85-letter roadside sign has become a frequently visited stop for tourists seeking photo opportunities. Although the land is privately owned, limiting direct access to the hill, the sign itself is located in a public area and is widely used for visual memorabilia. The area around the sign attracts interest from both local and international tourists due to the name’s length, encouraging visually oriented visits to the region.

^{The World’s Longest Place Name: Taumata (}flickr⁾