aotearoa

English - English

Definition of aotearoa in English English dictionary

New Zealand

North Island

Land of the long white cloud (toponymic translation from Maori)

North Island (of New Zealand)

Long white cloud (literal translation from Maori)

New Zealand (country)

the Maori name for New Zealand

Related Terms

Aotearoa New Zealand

A bicultural name for New Zealand

The Commission recognises the importance of Māori culture... to all people of Aotearoa New Zealand (Human Rights Commission Focus, March 1988).

Synonyms

north island, aotearoa new zealand, new zealand

Etymology

() Maori, long white cloud, from ao (“cloud, daytime, world”) + tea (“white”) + roa (“long, tall”); often translated as "the land of the long white cloud". Probably a reference to the appearance of mountainous land when seen on the horizon from a canoe after an ocean voyage. Originally was in reference to the North Island only. The first recorded mention of Aotearoa as a name for New Zealand as a whole was in 1898 in The Long White Cloud Ao-tea-roa by William Pember Reeves. Original name known by the indigenous Polynesian population as Te Ika Nui A Maui or , The great fish of Maui , from te (“the”) + ika (“fish”) + nui (“big, great, large”) + ā (“of”) + Māui (“a Polynesian demigod”);