Te Whanganui-a-Tara
/ˌte ˈɸaŋanui ˌa ˈtara/
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand, referred to in Māori as Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Wiktionary also lists Pōneke.
Meaning: capital of New Zealand (noun)
Ways to say it
| Maori | IPA |
|---|---|
| Te Whanganui-a-Tara | /ˌte ˈɸaŋanui ˌa ˈtara/ |
| Pōneke | /ˈpoːneke/ |
Both terms are used to refer to the capital city of New Zealand.
What does it mean word for word?
The name Te Whanganui-a-Tara literally means 'The big bay of Tara'.
Which one should you use?
Te Whanganui-a-Tara is the formal or traditional name, while Pōneke is a common, more colloquial way to refer to the city.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the local dialect of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the name for Wellington is Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌte ˈɸaŋanui ˌa ˈtara/
Did you know?
- The colloquial name Pōneke is thought by some to be a shortening of pō and nekeneke, meaning 'the journey into the night'. This refers to the Te Āti Awa people leaving the harbour after being displaced by colonists.
- The formal name Te Whanganui-a-Tara commemorates the explorer Tara, the son of Whātonga, who was sent to explore and settle the southern lands.
Examples in context
- E noho ana te whare nui o te motu ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara.The main building of the country sits in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
- Ka haere ahau ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara i te wiki nei.I am going to Te Whanganui-a-Tara this week.
- He tino ataahua Te Whanganui-a-Tara i te wā o te ra.Te Whanganui-a-Tara is very beautiful during the day.
Example conversation
Maia and Tane are discussing travel plans over the phone.
- MaiaKa rere ana koe ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara?Are you flying to Te Whanganui-a-Tara?
- TaneAe, ka haere au ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara i te Rātapu.Yes, I am going to Te Whanganui-a-Tara on Sunday.
- MaiaKia pai tō haerenga ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara.Have a good trip to Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
- TaneTēnā koe, Maia.Thank you, Maia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wellington” translations and entries Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Pōneke, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Pōneke, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
