Did you know the longest place name in the world has 85 characters?
Welcome to…
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
Yes, that's a real place in New Zealand!
This hill, located near Porangahau in the Hawke's Bay region, holds the Guinness World Record for the longest place name still in use.
The name is in the Māori language, and it tells a legendary story about a man named Tamatea, a great explorer and warrior. The name translates roughly to:
> “The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed, and swallowed mountains, played his flute to his loved one.”
Locals just call it Taumata Hill — and we can’t blame them!
