1 Aug 2024

Spoken Feature: Nau Mai Town

From Afternoons, 3:35 pm on 1 August 2024

The story behind our Māori place names, that's the vibe of the podcast Nau Mai Town producer Justine Murray is back with a fresh season and she's taking us to Wānaka, in Otago South Island. 

It's a stunning part of the country -  but what does the name 'Wānaka' mean? RNZ Producer Justine Murray was there and finds out not only the meaning of the name Wānaka, but before 1940 the town went by another name. 

"Wānaka" in the style of iconic New Zealand road sign.

Photo: RNZ / Krista Barnaby