Maori Town Name Generator
Te reo Māori place names of Aotearoa
Browse 1,000 Māori place names from Aotearoa New Zealand: towns such as Rotorua, Taupō and Whakatāne, plus rivers, lakes, hills, harbors and pā, and descriptive names like Rotoiti, Pukeroa and Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Written with macrons for writers, students and worldbuilders.
About maori town names
Māori place names describe the land. Many are compounds with the landform first and its description second, so a dozen words open up much of the map of Aotearoa. Wai is water, roto a lake, awa a river, manga a stream, puke a hill, maunga a mountain, whanga a harbor, motu an island and one sand or a beach. A pā is a fortified village and a kāinga a settlement. The describing words follow: nui (big), iti (small), roa (long), pai (good), rua (two), mā (white), pango (black) and kura (red). Rotoiti reads as small lake and Motunui as big island.
The list covers towns from Kerikeri to Tauranga and Wānaka, rivers, lakes and harbors, hills and mountains, islands and beaches, pā and kāinga, names that open with Te or Ngā (the), and long forms such as Te Whanganui-a-Tara. A small share are South Island names in the Kāi Tahu dialect, where k stands in for ng, as in Aoraki and Waitaki.
Well-known places sit beside plain descriptive compounds in the same pattern, and the page does not mark which is which. A compound that clear usually names a place somewhere, so look a name up in the New Zealand Gazetteer before you use it. Macrons mark long vowels and are part of the spelling.
How to choose maori town names
- Keep the word order: landform first, description second. Pukeroa and Motunui follow it, and turning the parts around breaks the grammar.
- Keep the macrons. Taupō, Ōtaki and Whakatāne are spelled with them, and the length of a vowel can change what a word means.
- Match the name to the landscape. Whanga and Motu names belong on the coast, Roto names beside a lake, Manga and Awa names along a river, Puke and Maunga names in hill country.
- Use a real name for the real place only. If your story is set in Rotorua or Kaikōura, describe the town as it is and take the current spelling from the New Zealand Gazetteer.
- Place names carry the history of the people of that land. For published work, ask a te reo Māori speaker whether a name suits the place you have in mind, and do not coin names from syllables that only sound Māori.
Frequently asked questions
Are these real Māori place names?
Most are the names of existing places in Aotearoa New Zealand: towns such as Rotorua and Whakatāne, rivers such as Waikato, mountains such as Ruapehu and Aoraki. The list also holds plain descriptive compounds built in the same pattern, and it does not mark them. Look a name up in the New Zealand Gazetteer when it matters.
What do the parts of Māori place names mean?
Many names join a landform to a description. Wai is water, roto lake, awa river, puke hill, maunga mountain, whanga harbor and motu island, and nui, iti and roa mean big, small and long, so Rotoiti reads as small lake and Motunui as big island. Many other names recall people and events and cannot be read from their parts, so this page gives no meanings for them.
Why do some names have a line over a vowel?
The line is a macron and marks a long vowel, as in Taupō, Ōtaki and Kaikōura. Vowel length is part of a word in te reo Māori and can change its meaning, so the macron belongs in the spelling. Spellings on maps are still being updated, so check the New Zealand Gazetteer before you publish a name.
What is the difference between a pā and a kāinga?
A pā is a fortified village, often on a hill, ridge or headland, and a kāinga is an unfortified settlement or home. Both words turn up in place names. The list includes pā sites such as Ruapekapeka and Ōtātara, and settlements that keep the word in their name, such as Wairau Pā and Waiau Pā.
Related generators
Maori Name Generator
Māori first names and whānau surnames
New Zealand Town Name Generator
Real and invented towns from both islands
New Zealand Name Generator
Realistic Kiwi names: Pākehā, Māori and Pasifika
Polynesian Name Generator
Hawaiian, Māori, Samoan, Tongan and Tahitian names
Hawaiian Town Name Generator
Hawaiian towns, valleys, bays, peaks and islets
Australian Town Name Generator
Funny, tongue-twisting town names, Australian style
Place Name Generator
Towns, villages, regions and landmarks for any map
Coastal Town Name Generator
Fishing villages, harbour towns, and seaside resorts
More like this
Armenian Town Name Generator
Real Armenian towns, villages and built place names
Austrian Town Name Generator
Real and invented place names from Austria
Cornish Town Name Generator
Tre, Pol and Pen names for maps and stories
Frisian Town Name Generator
Terp villages, sluice towns and Wadden island names
Serbian Town Name Generator
Real and constructed towns from Vojvodina to the south
Byzantine Town Name Generator
Real and invented towns of the Eastern Roman Empire
All 1,000 maori town names
A: 53 names
- Ahipara
- Ahuriri
- Aka Aka
- Akaroa
- Akatarawa
- Akatere
- Anakoha
- Ananui
- Anapai
- Anaroa
- Anatakapau
- Anatoki
- Anatori
- Anaura
- Anawhata
- Aokautere
- Aoraki
- Aorangi
- Aorere
- Aotea
- Aotearoa
- Aparima
- Arakihi
- Arakura
- Aramiro
- Aranui
- Arapaoa
- Arapito
- Arapohue
- Arapoto
- Ararimu
- Arataki
- Aratiatia
- Arawhata
- Aropaoanui
- Arowhana
- Arowhenua
- Awahou
- Awahuri
- Awakaponga
- Awakura
- Awamarino
- Awamoa
- Awamoko
- Awanui
- Awapai
- Awapoto
- Awapuni
- Awarau
- Awaroa
- Awarua
- Awatere
- Awatoto
E: 1 name
- Eketāhuna
H: 37 names
- Hakanoa
- Hakatere
- Hananui
- Hangaroa
- Haparangi
- Hāpuanui
- Hātea
- Hātepe
- Hauhungaroa
- Haunui
- Haupiri
- Hauraki
- Hauroko
- Hautere
- Hauturu
- Hāwai
- Hāwea
- Hāwera
- Heretaunga
- Hikumutu
- Hikutaia
- Hikuwai
- Hinakura
- Hinuera
- Hiwinui
- Hiwiroa
- Hokianga
- Hōkio
- Hokitika
- Horohoro
- Horowhenua
- Huiarau
- Huirangi
- Huiroa
- Hukanui
- Huriawa
- Hurunui
I: 3 names
- Ihumātao
- Ikawhenua
- Īnangahua
K: 85 names
- Kā Roimata-o-Hinehukatere
- Kā Tiritiri-o-te-Moana
- Kahurānaki
- Kahurangi
- Kahutara
- Kaiapoi
- Kaiate
- Kaihere
- Kaihiku
- Kaihū
- Kaikohe
- Kaikōura
- Kaimai
- Kaimanawa
- Kaimata
- Kaimaumau
- Kaimiro
- Kāinga Hou
- Kāingaroa
- Kaipaki
- Kaipara
- Kaiparoro
- Kairākau
- Kairanga
- Kaitake
- Kaitarakihi
- Kaitawa
- Kaitemako
- Kaiteriteri
- Kaitieke
- Kaitorete
- Kaitotehe
- Kaituna
- Kaiwera
- Kaiwhaiki
- Kaiwharawhara
- Kakaramea
- Kākāriki
- Kakepuku
- Kamo
- Kāpiti
- Karaka
K, continued
- Karamea
- Karamū
- Karangarua
- Karewa
- Karioi
- Karori
- Katikati
- Kauaeranga
- Kaupokonui
- Kawakawa
- Kawarau
- Kawatiri
- Kawau
- Kaweka
- Kawerau
- Kāwhia
- Kenepuru
- Kerepēhi
- Kerikeri
- Kirikau
- Kirikirikatata
- Kirikiriroa
- Kirikopuni
- Kōhangapiripiri
- Kōhangaterā
- Kōpuaiti
- Kōpuanui
- Kōpuarahi
- Kōpuaranga
- Kōpuaroa
- Kōpuawhara
- Kōputaroa
- Korakonui
- Kororāreka
- Kororipo
- Koukourarata
- Koutunui
- Kouturoa
- Kumeū
- Kumutoto
- Kura Tāwhiti
- Kūraeroa
- Kuratau
M: 156 names
- Maeroa
- Mahakipawa
- Māhia
- Māhinapua
- Mahitahi
- Mahoenui
- Mahurangi
- Mairangi
- Makaawhio
- Mākaro
- Maketū
- Mākuri
- Manapōuri
- Manawatū
- Mangahao
- Mangaharakeke
- Mangaiti
- Mangakāhia
- Mangakawa
- Mangakōwhai
- Mangakuri
- Mangamaire
- Mangamaunu
- Mangamingi
- Mangamuka
- Manganui
- Manganui-o-te-Ao
- Mangaokewa
- Mangaone
- Mangaotaki
- Mangapai
- Mangapehi
- Mangapiko
- Mangapoike
- Mangarākau
- Mangaroa
- Mangatangi
- Mangatarata
- Mangatarere
- Mangatāwhiri
- Mangatepōpō
- Mangateretere
- Mangatoetoe
- Mangatoki
- Mangatū
- Mangawhai
- Mangawhero
- Mangawhio
- Māngere
- Mangōnui
- Mangorei
- Maniaiti
M, continued
- Maniaroa
- Māniatoto
- Manukau
- Manurewa
- Mapourika
- Marotere
- Mata-Au
- Matahina
- Matahiwi
- Mataikona
- Matairangi
- Matakatia
- Matamata
- Matapihi
- Matarau
- Mataroa
- Mataura
- Matauri
- Matawhero
- Matiere
- Matiu
- Matua
- Matukutūreia
- Matukutūruru
- Mauao
- Mauku
- Maungaharuru
- Maungahuka
- Maungaiti
- Maungakākāramea
- Maungakaramea
- Maungakawa
- Maungakiekie
- Maunganui
- Maungaongaonga
- Maungaparerua
- Maungapōhatu
- Maungaraho
- Maungarei
- Maungaroa
- Maungataniwha
- Maungatautari
- Maungatua
- Maungauika
- Maungawera
- Maungawhau
- Maunu
- Maupuia
- Māwhera
- Meretoto
- Mikonui
- Moananui
M, continued
- Moanaroa
- Moehau
- Moeraki
- Mōhaka
- Mohua
- Mōkau
- Mōkauiti
- Mokoia
- Mokopuna
- Momorangi
- Mōrere
- Mōtū
- Motu Kairangi
- Motuara
- Motuarohia
- Motueka
- Motuhoa
- Motuihe
- Motuiti
- Motukahakaha
- Motukaraka
- Motukauri
- Motukawa
- Motukawanui
- Motuketekete
- Motukiekie
- Motukiore
- Motukiwi
- Motukōkako
- Motukorea
- Motukōwhai
- Motumānawa
- Motumaoho
- Motunui
- Motuora
- Motupiko
- Motupipi
- Motupōhue
- Moturau
- Moturekareka
- Moturoa
- Moturua
- Motutaiko
- Motutākapu
- Motutara
- Motutere
- Motuweka
- Mourea
- Moutohorā
- Moutoki
- Murihiku
- Murupara
N: 29 names
- Naenae
- Ngā Manu
- Ngā Rā-o-Kupe
- Ngāhewa
- Ngāhinapōuri
- Ngaio
- Ngāiotonga
- Ngākuru
- Ngāmatea
- Ngāmotu
- Ngāpaeruru
- Ngāpara
- Ngāpouri
- Ngāpuke
- Ngāpuna
- Ngāputahi
- Ngāraratunua
- Ngāroto
- Ngāruawāhia
- Ngaruroro
- Ngātaki
- Ngātarawa
- Ngāturi
- Ngāuruhoe
- Ngāwhā
- Ngongotahā
- Ngutunui
- Ngutuwera
- Nōti Raureka
O: 76 names
- Ōhaeawai
- Ōhakune
- Ōhāriu
- Ōhawe
- Ōhinehou
- Ōhinemuri
- Ōhinemutu
- Ōhinerau
- Ōhiwa
- Ōhope
- Ōhuiarangi
- Ōkahu
- Ōkāreka
- Ōkārito
- Ōkaro
- Ōkataina
- Ōkere
- Ōkiato
- Ōkura
- Ōmanaia
- Ōmarumutu
- Onaero
- Onehunga
- Onekawa
- Onekura
- Onemā
- Onemana
- Onenui
- Onepai
- Onepoto
- Onerahi
- Oneriri
- Oneroa
- Onetahua
- Onetahuti
- Onetai
- Onetangi
- Onetea
O, continued
- Onewhero
- Ōnoke
- Ōnuku
- Ōpape
- Ōpārau
- Ōpāwaho
- Ōpihi
- Ōpononi
- Ōpōtiki
- Ōpunake
- Ōraka
- Ōrākau
- Ōrākei
- Ōrākei Kōrako
- Ōrere
- Ōreti
- Ōrewa
- Ōrongorongo
- Ōroua
- Ōruanui
- Ōtāhuhu
- Ōtākaro
- Ōtaki
- Ōtākou
- Ōtamahua
- Ōtamarākau
- Ōtanewainuku
- Ōtara
- Ōtari
- Ōtātara
- Ōtautahi
- Ōtepoti
- Ōtorohanga
- Ōtuataua
- Ōtūkaikino
- Ōtūmoetai
- Ōwairaka
- Ōwhiro
P: 120 names
- Paekākāriki
- Paekawakawa
- Paemako
- Paenui
- Paerata
- Paeroa
- Paetawa
- Paetūmōkai
- Paewhenua
- Pahīatua
- Paihia
- Pākanae
- Pākarae
- Pākaraka
- Pākihi
- Pakipaki
- Pākiri
- Pākōwhai
- Pakuranga
- Panekire
- Panguru
- Papaitonga
- Papakaio
- Papakura
- Pāpāmoa
- Papanui
- Paparangi
- Paparata
- Paparimu
- Paparoa
- Paparore
- Papatea
- Papatoetoe
- Parangarahu
- Parapara
- Paraparaumu
- Paremata
- Pārengarenga
- Parihaka
- Parikawa
- Parikino
- Paringa
- Parinui
- Paripango
- Pariroa
- Paritai
- Paritea
- Paritūtū
- Pariwhero
- Parua
- Pātea
- Pāterangi
- Patetonga
- Pawarenga
- Piako
- Piha
- Pīhanga
- Pikirakatahi
- Piopiotahi
- Pipitea
P, continued
- Pipiwai
- Pirongia
- Poerua
- Pohokura
- Pōnui
- Porirua
- Pōtaka
- Poteriteri
- Pouākai
- Pouērua
- Pourerere
- Pūkaki
- Pūkawa
- Pukeahu
- Pukearuhe
- Pukeatua
- Pukehiki
- Pukehinahina
- Pukehou
- Pukeiti
- Pukekaroro
- Pukekawa
- Pukekiwiriki
- Pukekohe
- Pukemaire
- Pukenamu
- Pukeoware
- Pukepoto
- Pukerangiora
- Pukerimu
- Pukeroa
- Pukerua
- Puketaha
- Puketakauere
- Puketāpapa
- Pukete
- Puketeraki
- Puketiro
- Puketitiri
- Puketoi
- Puketona
- Puketōtara
- Puketui
- Puketurua
- Puketutu
- Pukeuri
- Pukewhero
- Pukewīwī
- Pūkorokoro
- Punakaiki
- Punakitere
- Punakōwhai
- Punaroa
- Punaruku
- Punawai
- Pungarehu
- Pūniu
- Pureora
- Putāruru
- Pūtauaki
R: 89 names
- Raenui
- Raeroa
- Raetihi
- Rāhotu
- Rakahuri
- Rakaia
- Rākino
- Rakiroa
- Rakirua
- Rakiura
- Rangaunu
- Rangiahua
- Rangihoua
- Rangiora
- Rangiotu
- Rangipō
- Rangiputa
- Rangiriri
- Rangitāiki
- Rangitīkei
- Rangitoto
- Rangitoto ki te Tonga
- Rangitukia
- Rangiuru
- Rangiwaea
- Rānui
- Rāpaki
- Rarotoka
- Rātā
- Raukūmara
- Raumanga
- Raumati
- Raupunga
- Rāwhiti
- Remuera
- Remutaka
- Reponui
- Reporua
- Rerewhakaaitu
- Rīpapa
- Rongotai
- Rotoaira
- Rotoatua
- Rotoehu
R, continued
- Rotoiti
- Rotokākahi
- Rotokare
- Rotokauri
- Rotokawa
- Rotokawau
- Rotokōhatu
- Rotokura
- Rotomā
- Rotomahana
- Rotomanu
- Rotomānuka
- Rotongaro
- Rotonui
- Rotopai
- Rotopiko
- Rotopounamu
- Rotorangi
- Rotoroa
- Rotorua
- Rototai
- Rototuna
- Rotowhero
- Ruahihi
- Ruahine
- Ruakākā
- Ruakituri
- Ruakiwi
- Ruakura
- Ruamāhanga
- Ruamata
- Ruanui
- Ruapehu
- Ruapekapeka
- Ruapuke
- Ruapuna
- Ruaroa
- Ruatāhuna
- Ruatangata
- Rūātoki
- Ruatōria
- Ruatuna
- Ruawhata
- Rukuhia
- Rurima
T: 222 names
- Tahāroa
- Taheke
- Tāhuna
- Tāhunanui
- Tāhunaroa
- Taieri
- Taihape
- Taiharuru
- Tairua
- Taitā
- Taitoko
- Tākaka
- Takapō
- Takapourewa
- Takapuna
- Takarunga
- Takitimu
- Tākou
- Tāmaki
- Tāmaki Makaurau
- Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua
- Tāngarākau
- Tangihua
- Tangiterōria
- Tangoio
- Tangowahine
- Tarakena
- Taramakau
- Taranaki
- Taranga
- Tararua
- Tarata
- Taratahi
- Tarawera
- Tarikākā
- Tarurutangi
- Tataraimaka
- Tauhara
- Taumarunui
- Taumata
- Taumutu
- Taupaki
- Taupiri
- Taupō
- Taupō-nui-a-Tia
- Tauranga
- Taurewa
- Tauriko
- Taurikura
- Tautoro
- Tautuku
- Tauweru
- Tauwhare
- Tawa
- Tāwharanui
T, continued
- Tawhiti Rahi
- Te Ahu Pātiki
- Te Ahuahu
- Te Ahumairangi
- Te Ākau
- Te Anau
- Te Anga
- Te Ara-a-Kiwa
- Te Ārai
- Te Araroa
- Te Aro
- Te Aroaro-o-Kupe
- Te Aroha
- Te Atatū
- Te Aumiti
- Te Awa Kairangi
- Te Awa Whakatipu
- Te Awa-o-Mokotūāraro
- Te Awa-o-te-Atua
- Te Awaiti
- Te Awamutu
- Te Hana
- Te Hāroto
- Te Hauke
- Te Hauturu-o-Toi
- Te Henga
- Te Hēnui
- Te Heru-o-Kahukura
- Te Hiku-o-te-Ika
- Te Hoiere
- Te Hūpēnui
- Te Ika-a-Māui
- Te Kaha
- Te Kauwae-a-Māui
- Te Kawa
- Te Kohia
- Te Koko-o-Kupe
- Te Kopi
- Te Kopi-o-Ōpihi
- Te Kōpua
- Te Kōpuke
- Te Koutu
- Te Kūiti
- Te Kupenga-a-Kupe
- Te Maire
- Te Manahuna
- Te Manukanuka-o-Hoturoa
- Te Mārua
- Te Mata
- Te Mata-o-Rongokako
- Te Matau-a-Māui
- Te Miro
- Te Moana-a-Toi
- Te Moeka-o-Tuawe
- Te Motu-a-Hiaroa
- Te Namu
T, continued
- Te Ngae
- Te Ngaere
- Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu
- Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē
- Te Ore Ore
- Te Pā Hou
- Te Pā Tawhito
- Te Pā-o-Moki
- Te Paerahi
- Te Pahu
- Te Pane-o-Mataaho
- Te Papaioea
- Te Papapa
- Te Pātaka-o-Rākaihautū
- Te Poho-o-Tamatea
- Te Poi
- Te Pōrere
- Te Pūaha-o-Waikato
- Te Puia
- Te Pukatea
- Te Puke
- Te Puna-o-Riuwaka
- Te Punga-o-te-Waka
- Te Raekaihau
- Te Raki Paewhenua
- Te Ranga
- Te Rangiita
- Te Rapa
- Te Rauamoa
- Te Rerenga
- Te Rohe Pōtae
- Te Roto-a-Tara
- Te Roto-o-Wairewa
- Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe
- Te Rua-o-te-Moko
- Te Tai Hauāuru
- Te Tai Poutini
- Te Tai Tamatāne
- Te Tai Tamawahine
- Te Tai Tokerau
- Te Tai-o-Aorere
- Te Tai-o-Marokura
- Te Tairāwhiti
- Te Tangihanga-o-Kupe
- Te Tara-o-te-Ika-a-Māui
- Te Tātua-a-Riukiuta
- Te Tauihu-o-te-Waka
- Te Tihi-o-Kahukura
- Te Tihi-o-Maru
- Te Tii
- Te Toka-a-Taiau
- Te Tumu
- Te Uku
- Te Upoko-o-Kurī
- Te Upoko-o-te-Ika
T, continued
- Te Urewera
- Te Waewae
- Te Waihora
- Te Waikoropupū
- Te Waipounamu
- Te Waka-a-Māui
- Te Waka-o-Aoraki
- Te Wao Nui-a-Tiriwa
- Te Whāiti
- Te Whanga
- Te Whanganui-a-Orotu
- Te Whanganui-a-Tara
- Te Wharau
- Temuka
- Tihia
- Tihinui
- Tihiroa
- Tīkapa Moana
- Tikipunga
- Tikitiki
- Tikorangi
- Timaru
- Tīrau
- Tiritiri Matangi
- Tirohanga
- Tirohia
- Titiokura
- Titirangi
- Titiraupenga
- Tititea
- Tokapiko
- Tokarahi
- Tokaroa
- Tokatea
- Tokatoka
- Tokawhero
- Tokerau
- Tokoroa
- Tomarata
- Tongariro
- Tōrere
- Tōtara
- Tōtaranui
- Tuhiraki
- Tuhitarata
- Tūhua
- Tukituki
- Turakirae
- Tūranga
- Tūranganui-a-Kiwa
- Tūrangi
- Tūrua
- Turuturumōkai
- Tūtāmoe
- Tutukākā
- Tuturau
U: 2 names
- Ūawa
- Urupukapuka
W: 127 names
- Waahi
- Waerenga-a-Hika
- Waianakarua
- Waiapu
- Waiariki
- Waiatoto
- Waiau Pā
- Waiau Toa
- Waiau Uwha
- Waihāhā
- Waihao
- Waiharakeke
- Waiheke
- Waihī
- Waihōpai
- Waihou
- Waikanae
- Waikare
- Waikareiti
- Waikaremoana
- Waikato
- Waikino
- Waikouaiti
- Waimā
- Waimakariri
- Waimatā
- Waimate
- Waimea
- Waingawa
- Waingongoro
- Wainui
- Wainuiomata
- Waioeka
- Waiōhine
- Waiōuru
- Waipā
- Waipaoa
- Waipapa
- Waipātiki
- Waipawa
- Waipiro
- Waipori
W, continued
- Waipoua
- Waipū
- Waipukurau
- Wairarapa
- Wairau
- Wairau Pā
- Wairewa
- Wairoa
- Waitahanui
- Waitākere
- Waitaki
- Waitara
- Waitārere
- Waitematā
- Waitohi
- Waitomo
- Waiuku
- Waiwhakaiho
- Waiwhetū
- Wakapuaka
- Wānaka
- Waoku
- Waonui
- Whāingaroa
- Whakaari
- Whakaipo
- Whakakī
- Whakamārama
- Whakamoenga
- Whakaoriori
- Whakapapa
- Whakapara
- Whakapirau
- Whakapunake
- Whakaraupō
- Whakarewarewa
- Whakarongo
- Whakataki
- Whakatāne
- Whakatipu Waimāori
- Whakatiwai
- Whakatū