What is the etymology or reason behind various place names in your country, such as major cities? Is there an interesting historical reason why certain places were named as they were?
For Tangatarehua:
Tangatarehua: The nation's name itself means "People of the God of the Stars" as according to legend, the first Empress was a descendant of Rehua, the Maori god of the stars.
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Islands of Tangatarehua:
Moanapapa: Literally just means "Ocean land" and is what the name says on the tin.
Marangawhenua: "Land of the Rising Moon" - according to legend, Rehua guided the Maori people to their promised land and said you will know you have found your home when you see the moon rising over the land.
Rangiwhero: "Red Sky" - so named because much of the island is famous for dramatic weather, leading to dramatic red sky sunsets.
Motumakariri: "Cold Island" - Tangatarehua's southernmost island is exceptionally cold in winter and even in summer is notably cooler and greyer than the rest of the country.
Ikame nga Maramara islands: Sometimes hilariously translated as "Fish and chip islands" (technically correct) though a better translation would be "fish and broken pieces" island, referring to the abundance of fish and the the fact that the area contains multiple small islets.
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Cities of Tangatarehua:
Kaiika: "Eat fish" - being the largest city in the Ikame nga Maramara islands, Kaiika is so named for its abundant fisheries.
Takutairoa: "Long beach" - located on the northern coast of Moanapapa on the edge of, as the name suggests, a very long beach.
Rakipa: "Northern Palace" - Founded in 811 AD when the Empress moved her court north to keep control over a rebellious faction, Rakipa still today is the location of the winter palace, when the Empress heads north in the winter to enjoy Rakipa's warmer, milder climate.
Tamaki: "Many people" - a fitting name for the city that contains one third of Tangatarehua's entire population. For centuries Tamaki, which is also the de facto capital, has been the most populous area in the country, originally a group of various fishing villages that merged into one metropolis. It's strategically located on the Whangakawa strait at a narrow chokepoint between Moanapapa and Marangawhenua and has therefore been a natural place for fishing, trade, commerce, the military and the government.
Within Tamaki there are also other interesting place names, such as 'Whangakawa' meaning 'Stormy Harbour' due to the prevalence of thunderstorms in Tamaki.
Kotiropai: Originally called Awakotiro-pai, (river of Kotiropai) and named after Empress Kotiropai who is Tangatarehua's first non-legendary Empress and founded the first permanent capital city in the area in 404 AD.
Whakaara: Means 'Storage place', which is precisely how it was founded - it was used as a secret hiding place for Empress Tamahine Matamua in 1178 when supporters of her sister (and pretender to the throne) Princess Tawhai violently stormed Rakipa Castle. Because Whakaara was difficult to access, being blocked off by mountains, and therefore difficult for an invading army to conquer, it has remained the de jure capital and seat of the imperial throne since 1178.
Kaingaraorao: "Home in the valley" - so named because the city is located in a valley between two major mountain ranges on northern Rangiwhero.
Wharekorana: "House of the Quran" although technically could be translated simply as "Mosque" - so named because the city was founded by Muslims in 1750 (making it Tangatarehua's newest city) and built around the Wharekorana Grand Mosque.
Kaitohura: "Eat whale" - the centre of Tangatarehua's (often controversial) whaling industry is so named for its local dish.
Rangipukuriri: "Angry sky" - the southernmost city in Tangatarehua is known for its cold and rainy climate and so named accordingly.
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