5 Bizarrely Named Towns In New Zealand

Too often dismissed as Australia’s less-recognizable little sibling, New Zealand is regularly left off world maps, to the point where there is a Reddit dedicated to maps that leave a blank where New Zealand should be. It’s a shame, because Aotearoa (its original Maori name) is unlike any other place, as evidenced by its most odd town names. From its spectacular natural beauty and one-of-a-kind wildlife to its proud commitment to old Maori traditions, New Zealand is a truly unique destination. Who would be shocked to hear that it has a number of memorable location names? The global map suffers from the absence of these six charmingly unusual New Zealand place names.

Naseby

Many towns have notable namesakes. It’s not uncommon for New Zealand towns to be named after a prominent character, whether it’s a regional chief, a notable British political figure, or the pioneer who established the town as we know it. The namesake of the quaint-sounding town of Naseby, however, is not human.

Because New Zealand was a British colony, many of its English place names simply refer to existing British settlements. Naseby is an especially bucolic transfer, with that traditional so-cutesy-it-could-be-made-up English rural feel. Naseby, a former gold rush boomtown, adds to its attractiveness with an equally odd town motto: “2000 feet above worry level” (sea level for all you geographers).

Nightcaps

Want to take a shot before bedtime? You might be disappointed with this New Zealand town, as its name has little to do with alcohol. Nightcaps, a former coal-mining boomtown, receives its remarkable moniker not from its affinity for a drink, but from its distinct terrain. Nightcaps is set in the hilly Southlands, with stunning vistas of the Takitimu Mountains. One idea for the town’s name points to the mountain views: the spectacular snow-capped peaks may have inspired the townspeople’s lyrical choice of names.

Another theory suggests that a different geographical accident was to blame. One legend of the town’s early settlement describes a traveling party passing by fog-covered hills and observing that they “had their nightcaps on,” thus the name. Will either story be confirmed? Probably not. But we can almost surely say that Nightcaps was not named after a raucous night at the neighborhood tavern.

Gore

It sounds like a gruesome place, yet Gore is yet another innocent victim of English words serving as surnames. In actuality, the Southland town of Gore is a happy place known for its yearly country music festival, which is surprising given that it shares its name with a horror film subgenre. After its agricultural fortunes plummeted in the late twentieth century, Gore restored economic stability by shifting its attention to dairy production. It is now a vibrant community that attracts tourists through country music and fly fishing. So, why the name Gore?

Gore, like many other weirdly called New Zealand locations, was named by an English settler with an awful surname. Thomas Gore Browne was New Zealand’s governor in the nineteenth century, and when the town was surveyed in 1862, the surveyors named it in his honor.

Pirongia

At first glance, the Te Reo (Maori) town name does not appear to stick out. It truly slides off the tongue pleasantly, and if you saw a “Welcome to Pirongia” sign, you would probably not stop to photograph it. However, knowing a little about its roots makes it much more unusual.

It is now well-known for rugby, but it was also the location of a major battle. However, Pirongia’s name reflects none of these characteristics. It’s a shortened version of the name of a nearby mountain, which was called after a sick woman who journeyed through the area in search of respite from her illness. Translations range from “scented pathway” (the gentlest option) to “putrid aroma” (which places Pirongia on this list). Fortunately, the only smell you’re likely to detect in this charming rural hamlet is that of its famous Clydesdale horses.

Whakapapa

If you are visiting New Zealand’s famous Tongariro National Park, you will most likely enter through the friendly community of Whakapapa. However, the town’s name, which translates to “genealogy” in Maori, may cause some confusion. Although its meaning isn’t quite as amusing as it seems to an English speaker, “Whakapapa” makes many a passing motorist laugh since it appears to indicate giving dear old dad a good smack over the head. Photographers would undoubtedly want to snap the stunning Tongariro Mountains, but the town’s sign is also worth catching.

In Summary

A road journey through New Zealand will introduce you to friendly people, fascinating fauna, breathtaking landscapes, and a plethora of sheep, but it will also introduce you to a few very distinctive place names. And, whether they’re punny or serious, these six New Zealand towns and geographic features make for unforgettable trips to the other, far less well-known Land Down Under.