Lost in translation: Do you know real meaning of our places?

By SANDRA CONCHIE
Do you know what Tauranga means in Maori? What about Mauao, Te Puke or Katikati?
As part of Maori Language Week, the Bay of Plenty Times hit the streets yesterday to ask people these questions - and found nine out of 10 people had no idea what Tauranga meant. The impromptu survey was conducted in the central business area.
While some people were prepared to hazard a guess, only 20-year-old Kyle Skerten of Matua - who has lived in the city for about two months - was spot-on with Tauranga and Katikati but still stumped with the other two place names.
"It's a beautiful culture. My mum speaks fluent Maori and I have learnt some of the language at school. I am quite interested in what words mean and I think it is important to learn about where you live."
John Lock, of Welcome Bay, said: "I should know but I'm sorry to admit I've failed miserably."
Rozlyn Harrison, 20, from Cambridge Heights, is half-Maori and half-Tongan but did not know any of the meanings.
"I knew I wouldn't know - that's because I know more Tongan than Maori."
An embarrassed Terri O'Dare of Welcome Bay said she feels "pretty terrible" about her failure to know any of the meanings.
"I should know as I'm from Ngaiterangi iwi and we own Mauao. But I have learnt a lot today."
Cathy Burton, 38, of Otumoetai said she bought Maori language tapes and a dictionary some time ago and had been learning the language but had to admit she was stumped by all four local place names.
"I am originally from Wairoa and know that means long water but I didn't know what Otumoetai meant either."
Others surveyed admitted they were also caught out by the impromptu survey but applauded the Maori Language Week celebrations.
Ngaiterangi iwi kaumatua Huata Palmer said he used to be highly cynical about Maori Language Week but was now a convert to the initiative.
"For me I would love to see Maori language celebrated all the time of course. But I applaud the initiative which clearly has put Maori language at the forefront of people's minds and raised the public's awareness of the opportunities out there to learn the language."
Mr Palmer said he was particularly encouraged by the number of non-Maori learning the language, and how active the media had been in adopting the language in publications and broadcasts to help improve usage and pronunciation.
"I think Maori Language Week is a very good thing and encourage everyone to have a go at speaking and using the language whenever they can. Like any language the more people practise it the better they will get."
And the answers to those four burning questions?
Katikati means nibble nibble (relating to a Maori chief's eating of a kumara).
There are slight variations from iwi to iwi but Mr Palmer tells us Tauranga means a place to anchor or sheltered waters; Te Puke means the small hill; and Mauao means caught by the dawn.