New Zealand is famous for its stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and rich Maori culture.

But did you know it’s also home to some truly funny town names.

Scattered across the country are places whose names will not only make you chuckle but also give you a glimpse into the history, legends, and humor of the people who named them.

These town names often combine Maori words with quirky or unexpected translations, and many have fascinating stories behind them. Whether you’re a traveler or a geography enthusiast, exploring the funny town names in New Zealand is a delightful way to learn about this vibrant country’s heritage.

🚗 Winding Roads of Whakatane 

• Whakatane
  Meaning: To act bravely or take charge.
• Waikikamukau
  Meaning: A humorous term for a remote place, like “middle of nowhere.”
• Urenui
  Meaning: Big penis.
• Ongaonga
  Meaning: Pain or sting.
• Pukekohe
  Meaning: Hill of the kohekohe tree.
• Waitakere
  Meaning: Cascading waters.
• Whangamomona
  Meaning: Valley of plenty.
• Pongaroa
  Meaning: Tall tree or elevated place.
• Te Puke
  Meaning: The hill.
• Pareora
  Meaning: Adorned or dressed.
• Matata
  Meaning: Village or settlement.
• Kapowai
  Meaning: Water dragonfly.
• Waihaha
  Meaning: Falling or tumbling water.
• Paekakariki
  Meaning: Perching place of the kakariki (native parrot).
• Tauranga
  Meaning: Anchorage or resting place.
• Waiuku
  Meaning: Muddy waters.
• Whakatiki
  Meaning: To be tied up or restricted.
• Kawakawa
  Meaning: Native pepper tree.
• Omapere
  Meaning: Place of gathering.
• Whirinaki
  Meaning: To lean against something for support.

🌲 Forest Trails of Ongaonga 

• Ongaonga
  Meaning: Pain or sting (related to local stinging nettles).
• Waimate
  Meaning: Stagnant or dead water.
• Whakapapa
  Meaning: Genealogy or layers (ancestry).
• Tikorangi
  Meaning: Skyward peak.
• Tutukaka
  Meaning: To tap or knock repeatedly.
• Manukau
  Meaning: Wading birds.
• Rangiora
  Meaning: Place of happiness or calm.
• Papatoetoe
  Meaning: Place where toetoe grass grows.
• Whitianga
  Meaning: Crossing or ford.
• Ngongotaha
  Meaning: Burdened by the wind.
• Otorohanga
  Meaning: Food for a journey.
• Waipukurau
  Meaning: Water of the pukurau fungus.
• Taupo
  Meaning: Cloak, often referring to Lake Taupo.
• Putaruru
  Meaning: Shaky or unstable.
• Maraetai
  Meaning: By the sea.
• Kaitaia
  Meaning: Plenty of food.
• Ruatoria
  Meaning: Great slaughter (historic reference).
• Te Kauwhata
  Meaning: The ridge or high point.
• Te Awamutu
  Meaning: The river’s end.
• Papanui
  Meaning: Big flat land.

🏞️ Valleys of Wagamama 

• Wagamama
  Meaning: Valley of plenty.
• Whangarei
  Meaning: Shelter or harbour.
• Turangi
  Meaning: To go around.
• Patea
  Meaning: White clay.
• Porirua
  Meaning: Tide-swept area.
• Paraparaumu
  Meaning: Scraps from a feast or settlement.
• Whakataki
  Meaning: To set off or proceed.
• Opotiki
  Meaning: Place of children.
• Kawerau
  Meaning: Place of great strength.
• Ahipara
  Meaning: Sacred fire.
• Otaki
  Meaning: The staff or support.
• Inglewood
  Meaning: No specific translation (named after an area in England).
• Rotorua
  Meaning: Second lake.
• Te Kuiti
  Meaning: Narrowing of a passage.
• Paeroa
  Meaning: Long ridge.
• Mokau
  Meaning: Place of many fresh springs.
• Ohakune
  Meaning: Place of the large stake.
• Whanganui
  Meaning: Large bay or harbour.
• Tapanui
  Meaning: Great flat land.
• Hastings
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after a British town).

🏔️ Peaks of Pukekohe 

• Pukekohe
  Meaning: Hill of the kohekohe tree.
• Ngamotu
  Meaning: The islands.
• Waihi
  Meaning: Waterfall.
• Mangawhai
  Meaning: Stream of the stingray.
• Ruakaka
  Meaning: Two parrots.
• Ngaruawahia
  Meaning: Meeting place at the bend of the river.
• Maungatautari
  Meaning: Mountain of protection.
• Mangatangi
  Meaning: Weeping stream.
• Matamata
  Meaning: Headland or point.
• Ruatoki
  Meaning: Cave of the axe.
• Te Aroha
  Meaning: The love.
• Featherston
  Meaning: Named after a British settler.
• Papakura
  Meaning: Red earth.
• Morrinsville
  Meaning: No specific translation (named after a British settler).
• Kerikeri
  Meaning: To dig repeatedly or excavate.
• Whakamaru
  Meaning: To shelter or safeguard.
• Whakapara
  Meaning: To lay something bare.
• Tapawera
  Meaning: Scraped bare.
• Tauraroa
  Meaning: Long rope.
• Karekare
  Meaning: Ripple or pattern in the sand.

🏙️ City Stops of Turangi 

• Turangi
  Meaning: To go around.
• Taihape
  Meaning: Mount or hill side.
• Tokoroa
  Meaning: Named after a local chief.
• Wairoa
  Meaning: Long river.
• Napier
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after a British figure).
• Gore
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after a British figure).
• Dannevirke
  Meaning: No Maori translation (founded by Scandinavian settlers).
• Taumarunui
  Meaning: Great overshadowing.
• Opunake
  Meaning: Place of the hill.
• Tairua
  Meaning: Two tides.
• Naseby
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after an English town).
• Queenstown
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after Queen Victoria).
• Warkworth
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after a town in England).
• Marlborough
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after the Duke of Marlborough).
• Alexandra
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after Queen Alexandra).
• Blenheim
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after a battle in Europe).
• Greymouth
  Meaning: Mouth of the Grey River.
• Hamilton
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after Captain John Hamilton).
• Invercargill
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after William Cargill).
• Lumsden
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after George Lumsden).

🌊 Coastal Charms of Te Puke 

• Te Puke
  Meaning: The hill.
• Orewa
  Meaning: Place of driftwood.
• Kaikoura
  Meaning: To eat crayfish.
• Whakatane
  Meaning: To act bravely or take charge.
• Kawhia
  Meaning: Embraced or enveloped (referring to the land and harbour).
• Whitianga
  Meaning: Crossing place.
• Tauranga
  Meaning: Sheltered anchorage.
• Te Kaha
  Meaning: The strength or energy.
• Tolaga Bay
  Meaning: No Maori translation (likely derived from Captain Cook’s mispronunciation).
• Ahipara
  Meaning: Sacred fire.
• Whangaparaoa
  Meaning: Bay of whales.
• Maketu
  Meaning: Famous landing place in Maori history.
• Opunake
  Meaning: The place of the hill.
• Piha
  Meaning: Named after the Piha stream.
• Karitane
  Meaning: The rock or stone.
• Pukerua Bay
  Meaning: Hill of two breasts.
• Mangonui
  Meaning: Big shark.
• Waitara
  Meaning: Water of reflection.
• Whirinaki
  Meaning: To lean on something for support.
• Paekakariki
  Meaning: Perching place of the small green parrot.

🌳 Forested Retreats of Waikikamukau 

• Waikikamukau
  Meaning: Humorous term meaning “middle of nowhere.”
• Waiouru
  Meaning: Place of water.
• Waiwera
  Meaning: Hot water.
• Otorohanga
  Meaning: Food for a journey.
• Mangakino
  Meaning: Stream of many caves.
• Oakura
  Meaning: Red dawn.
• Tokomaru
  Meaning: Canoe of Toa, a legendary Maori chief.
• Te Hana
  Meaning: The warmth.
• Rangiwahia
  Meaning: Sky or heaven.
• Waitomo
  Meaning: Water entering a hole (refers to the Waitomo caves).
• Mokai
  Meaning: Slave or servant.
• Whakapara
  Meaning: To lay bare or prepare the land.
• Tapawera
  Meaning: Scraped bare.
• Parakai
  Meaning: Wet or drenched.
• Ngunguru
  Meaning: The rumbling sound (often from waves).
• Tangiteroria
  Meaning: Crying over Toria (historical reference).
• Waimangaroa
  Meaning: Flowing stream of mangrove water.
• Matakohe
  Meaning: Head of the kohekohe tree.
• Karekare
  Meaning: Rippling sands.
• Hikurangi
  Meaning: First to see the sun.

🏡 Quiet Hamlets of Waimate

• Waimate
  Meaning: Stagnant water.
• Waikanae
  Meaning: Waters of the mullet fish.
• Waipukurau
  Meaning: Waters of the pukurau fungus.
• Te Kopuru
  Meaning: Unknown origin, likely local to the area.
• Kohukohu
  Meaning: Misty or smoky.
• Whangaruru
  Meaning: Sheltered bay.
• Otahuhu
  Meaning: Place of the ridge.
• Waikanae
  Meaning: Waters of the mullet fish.
• Motueka
  Meaning: Island of the weka bird.
• Kaitaia
  Meaning: Plenty of food.
• Waipu
  Meaning: Water pool or swamp.
• Pokeno
  Meaning: A place of beginning or root.
• Tangimoana
  Meaning: Crying sea.
• Rongotea
  Meaning: Place of peace or wellbeing.
• Rangiora
  Meaning: Place of happiness.
• Patutahi
  Meaning: Place where something was killed (refers to historic battle).
• Whatawhata
  Meaning: Place where food is stored.
• Otaki
  Meaning: Staff or pole.
• Te Horo
  Meaning: The landslide.
• Awanui
  Meaning: Great river.

🌿 Cultural Corners of Rotorua

• Rotorua
  Meaning: Second lake.
• Matamata
  Meaning: Headland.
• Ngaruawahia
  Meaning: Breaking waves or waters.
• Tokoroa
  Meaning: Named after a legendary chief.
• Turangi
  Meaning: To go around.
• Taupo
  Meaning: Great cloak or mantle.
• Kawerau
  Meaning: A place of great strength.
• Waiuku
  Meaning: Muddy water.
• Maraetai
  Meaning: By the sea.
• Hokianga
  Meaning: Returning or going back.
• Kaikoura
  Meaning: To eat crayfish.
• Taranaki
  Meaning: Mountain peak or glistening peak.
• Te Rapa
  Meaning: The flat land.
• Waipapa
  Meaning: Waters of the flat area.
• Waitomo
  Meaning: Waters entering a hole (refers to the cave system).
• Tikitere
  Meaning: Place of boiling mud pools (refers to the geothermal area).
• Te Awamutu
  Meaning: The river’s end.
• Pirongia
  Meaning: Smelling bad (refers to a swamp).
• Katikati
  Meaning: To nibble or eat.
• Ohakune
  Meaning: Place of the large stake.

🚶 Hidden Gems of Te Awamutu

• Te Awamutu
  Meaning: The river’s end.
• Ruatoria
  Meaning: Great slaughter.
• Pokeno
  Meaning: Root or base.
• Te Aroha
  Meaning: Love or caring.
• Papakura
  Meaning: Red earth.
• Foxton
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after a British figure).
• Manutuke
  Meaning: Bird of the wood.
• Matakohe
  Meaning: Head of the kohekohe tree.
• Pahiatua
  Meaning: The resting place of Atua (spiritual being).
• Waihou
  Meaning: New waters.
• Woodville
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after its natural surroundings).
• Levin
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after William Levin).
• Greytown
  Meaning: No Maori translation (named after Governor Grey).
• Taumarunui
  Meaning: Shaded by great trees.
• Wairoa
  Meaning: Long river.
• Opotiki
  Meaning: Place of children.
• Papamoa
  Meaning: Raised land or platform.
• Mangere
  Meaning: Lazy or sluggish.
• Te Kuiti
  Meaning: Narrowing passage.
• Tauraroa
  Meaning: Long rope.

Conclusion

New Zealand’s town names offer a unique blend of humor, history, and cultural heritage, showing how language can reflect the character of a place. The Maori influence in these names highlights the deep connection to the land, while European settlers have left their mark as well. Whether you’re exploring the country or just looking for a laugh, these funny town names in New Zealand are a delightful part of its charm!

e country’s distinctive character.