Okay, my children have never asked me that. They're 6 and 4. They have no concept of what north means. They only vaguely understand 'land.' But it's useful to be able to deduce information about people you meet in Te Tai Tokerau based on their names and faces.
Hell, just yesterday I interviewed somebody at a medical community event and when I got his name I instantly identified which Auckland Samoan aiga he came from.
It's a gift in that it ties in perfectly with my skillset as a journalist, creative writer and (former) cartoonist. It's also a curse because when I superrecognise a face in the supermarket, I can't stop staring until I get a result from searching my mental database.
Creepy, yes, but hey, I make a living as a writer. Superrecognising pays the bills.
Anyway, if you ever find yourself in the Whangarei District and High Court, that's a good opportunity to reflect on where Northlanders come from.