Local Focus: How do you say Manawatū Māori place names?

Will it be Woridy or Whariti? How about Acowtree or Aokautere? And don't forget Apiddy or Āpiti.

It's Te Wiki o te Reo Māori or Māori Language Week so Local Focus joined forces with a Palmerston North reo Māori legend to find out how the locals pronounce well-known Māori place names in the Manawatū.

Nuwyne Teaweawe Mohi is the Māori community liaison coordinator for Palmerston North City Council, and she checked how people pronounced:

Te Papaioea
Āpiti
Whariti
Aokautere
Whakarongo
Rangitāne.

The results were wildly varied, although most made very good attempts and earned "ka pai" praises from Mohi.

However, a pair of visitors from South Africa and America also took up the challenge - and delivered pronounciations to rival man of the locals.