Longest Place Name In The World

What: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu

Where: Porangahau, NZ North Island

Tucked away in the rolling hills near Porangahau on the North Island, you’ll find a spot that holds a rather curious world record: the longest place name on the planet.

Spanning 85 characters, Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu is more than just a tongue-twister—it’s a piece of Māori oral tradition that tells a story. The name roughly translates to “The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled about, played his nose flute to his loved one.”

It’s a tribute to Tamatea, a Māori explorer and warrior, and it ties the landscape to legend in a way that’s uniquely New Zealand.

Although the name belongs to a hill rather than a town, the site has become something of a pilgrimage for language lovers, curious travellers, and selfie-takers. A large signboard makes it easy to spot—and even easier to snap a photo with, if you can squeeze it all in.

There’s not much else around, but that’s part of the charm. It’s one of those quiet, off-the-beaten-track stops that gives you a story to tell and a new skill to practice: pronouncing the name. (Locals often just call it ‘Taumata’ for short.)

For something quirky, cultural and undeniably Kiwi, this is one signpost worth tracking down.