Tāmaki Makaurau
Auckland is translated into Māori as Tāmaki Makaurau. Wiktionary also lists Ākarana.
Meaning: the largest conurbation in New Zealand (name)
Ways to say it
| Maori |
|---|
| Tāmaki Makaurau |
| Ākarana |
Tāmaki Makaurau is the most common way to refer to the Auckland metropolitan area in Māori in modern New Zealand.
Which one should you use?
Tāmaki Makaurau is the formal name used in official contexts, news and formal speech, whereas Ākarana is another way to name the city.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Auckland region, the shortened term Tāmaki is commonly used to refer to Auckland.
Did you know?
- The name Tāmaki Makaurau means 'Tāmaki of a thousand lovers'. This refers to the area's historic desirability and the many people who fought to control its fertile land.
- The word Makaurau contains the prefix mau meaning 'to get or hold' and rau meaning 'hundred'. In Māori, 'a thousand' is often expressed as 'ten hundreds'.
- While 'Auckland' is an English name, the Māori name Ākarana is actually a phonetic transliteration of the English name, rather than a word with indigenous roots.
Examples in context
- Nō Tāmaki Makaurau tō whānau.Your family is from Auckland.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about travel plans over the phone.
- WiremuKa haere koe ki Tāmaki Makaurau?Are you going to Auckland?
- AnaheraĀe, ka haere au ki Tāmaki Makaurau.Yes, I am going to Auckland.
- WiremuKei te pai tēnā!That is great!
- AnaheraKa kite i a koe.See you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “auckland” translations and entries Tāmaki Makaurau, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
