Fascinating list of place names used in New Zealand with explanations of their derivations and meanings where these things are known.

"The aim of this book is to show how our pakeha place names are linked with our history. It is not intended to be a dictionary of all the place names of New Zealand ... Purely descriptive names whose origins are obvious have been ignored unless circumstances connected with the giving of the name made their inclusion desirable"--Jacket.

A handy glovebox-sized book covering the meanings and stories behind the place names of New Zealand. All the top tourist destinations are covered, including the unusual, the quirky and the historical. Useful symbols denoting rivers, lakes, towns and cities guide the reader with ease. Examples of places include: Mystery Creek - named after an unsolved murder in the Waikato region; Hataitai - named after the legend of two taniwha which live in Wellington Harbour; Vinegar Point - named when two early landowners, trapped outside on a cold night, opened a bottle of brandy to warm themselves up, only to find that it was vinegar!

Pronounce and understand Māori place names with the new fourth edition of A.W. Reed's classic guide to meanings and origins of names across New Zealand. From Ahaura to Whitianga, this handily sized book is the definitive guide to the most common and notable Māori names in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Included are maps on the inside covers showing principal names, and reproductions of the illustrations from the 1950 edition of the book by renowned artist James Berry.