Revealing the history, origin and meaning of New Zealand place names

 

New Zealand Place Names

Common, Contested and Curious Names from Aotearoa to Zalatown

Peter Dowling & A.W. Reed

Whether you call it New Zealand or Aotearoa, this country carries a unique history — one of very few land masses where we know mostly who named places and what those names mean.

Our recent human settlement makes for a wealth of recorded information, but also much change in our names as competing claims play out today — just ask residents of Russell or Waimarino. 

New Zealand Place Names represents the most up-to-date and authoritative guide to this field, providing fascinating definitions for over 850 names with history, origin, meanings, curiosities and more. 

Working with the assistance of the New Zealand Geographic Board, editor and publisher Peter Dowling has provided new definitions to build upon the lifetime’s research of the late A.W. Reed. A grant from Copyright Licensing New Zealand assisted the project.

This general work includes a map, glossaries, and new appendices on prolific namers, controversies and how to name a place. 

New Zealand Place Names complements A.W. Reed's classic Māori Place Names, also published by Oratia Books.

The Authors

Peter Dowling has edited and extended various of A.W. Reed’s classic works including Māori Place Names (2017) and Place Names of New Zealand (2010). Brought up in Christchurch and resident in Auckland, Peter is the founder and publisher of Oratia Books.

A.W. Reed (1908–1979) was one of New Zealand’s most influential writers and publishers. He helped build A.H. & A.W. Reed into the country’s leading publisher and authored more than 200 books, including seminal books on place names, dictionaries and collections of traditional stories and legends.

Publication Date: 5 November 2025 |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004288-1 |  RRP $39.99

Paperback, 234 x 153 mm portrait, 204 pages b&w

Oratia Media marks 25 years with launch of Five Oceans imprint

 

Oratia Media is celebrating its 25^th birthday, having been founded on 31 August 2000 by Peter Dowling and Alessandra Zecchini in Oratia, West Auckland. 

 

Initially a publishing services business for clients in New Zealand, Japan and Europe, Oratia Media later broadened its scope, while Peter maintained a full-time role at Reed Publishing (NZ).

Alessandra Zecchini

Business included cooking classes, food writing and styling, managing charity Te Potiki National Trust, business and travel journalism, teaching, translation and contract publishing. 

Hard work over those early years laid the foundation for the company’s own publishing under the Oratia Books brand. Since 2008 it has published more than 220 own and commissioned books. 

Peter Dowling

‘Sincere thanks to our team and all the authors, illustrators, clients, photographers, editors, designers, distributors, printers, booksellers, librarians, teachers, students, reviewers and readers who have been with us on this journey,’ the founders said today. 

 

Oratia Books’ philosophy is to publish and keep in print new and classic works, marketing across New Zealand with active distribution and rights deal worldwide. 

The Treaty of Waitangi, Margaret Mahy Book of the Year 2025 

That international approach led in 2021 to the BOP Bologna Prize for Best Children’s Publisher in Oceania. A further accolade came this month with Ross Calman’s The Treaty of Waitangi named Margaret Mahy Book of the Year in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. 

 

To mark its 25^th anniversary, Oratia Books is launching a new international imprint, Five Oceans. This new list will bring literary non-fiction and children’s books to Oceania from cultures whose works are under-represented in English, let alone in Polynesian languages. 

 

First comes The Ant Rebellion, a bestselling junior novel from Turkey, in October, then Finnish picture book Thank you, Forest in November. Books from India and Norway are next up in 2026. 

‘We look forward to extending Oratia’s activities to all five oceans of our planet,’ said Peter, who is developing the imprint with Rome-based Maria Leonardi, international rights manager.

 

‘With Five Oceans, we aim to bring outstanding writing and illustration into our languages, while encouraging cultural exchange to and from Aotearoa.’

Oratia makes commitment to diversity and inclusion through new policy

Oratia Media is starting off 2021 by making a firm commitment to representing diversity in its publishing, personnel and vision.

That is embodied in this policy statement.

ORATIA MEDIA

Diversity Policy

OUR VISION

To be a diverse and inclusive publisher with no barriers to entry for anyone regardless of their background or identity.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Oratia will respect:

·      the central role of the Treaty of Waitangi, respecting Māori as tangata whenua

·      the role of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa

·      the diverse cultures of Aotearoa New Zealand

·      the principle of equal access and opportunity for people of all cultures, ages, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and religions

This initiative follows our participation in a series of Diversity and Publishing workshops organised by the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) between September and December 2020. 

Diversity specialist Anton Blank of Oranui led those workshops and helped participants to develop policy and tools that will help book publishers to give equal access and value to all sectors of society in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Anton Blank of Oranui, which focuses on generating debate about diversity and giving people skills to deal with a diverse range of population groups

Along with Anton, and Alex Collins and Mish Wickremesekera of Lift Education, Carolyn Lagahetau and Peter Dowling of Oratia sit on PANZ's diversity subcommittee. 

Together they have developed policy and training for PANZ, and this is now extending to members.

We are firmly committed to books and workplaces that represent people of all backgrounds, and aim to carry that through into our future publishing, starting from respect for the Treaty of Waitangi. 

 

Oratia Media Celebrates 20 Years Today

Today marks 20 years since Peter Dowling and Alessandra Zecchini incorporated Oratia Media as a company.

Still going strong two decades on, our small company has changed and grown, while remaining grounded in the ngahere (forest) near the upper end of West Coast Road, Oratia, in the mighty Waitakere Ranges west of Auckland. 

Above all today offers the chance to thank our many clients, readers, collaborators, staff, contractors, family and supporters.  

The original logo: image designed by Alessandra, text by Myong-ok Kim

While publishing has been a core part of what we’ve always done, we chose the name ‘Media’ to reflect our pursuit of different activities (it also sounded good alongside ‘Oratia’!).

At establishment, that involved Alessandra teaching language and culture at the Dante Alighieri Italian Society of Auckland, running cooking classes and contributing food and travel articles to publications in New Zealand, Italy and Japan. 

Food styling with models Patricia Greig and Arantxa Zecchini Dowling (top) and photographer Shaun Cato-Symonds (bottom left)

Peter was then editor-at-large for Tokyo publisher Kozo System, editor and correspondent for Reed Business Information of London, and senior editor on contact to Reed Publishing (NZ) in Birkenhead. 

In 2002 Peter joined Reed NZ full-time as managing editor, later becoming publishing manager until the company’s sale in late 2007.

Over that time Alessandra ramped up her recipe development and food-styling activities, became a regular contributor to magazines including Cuisine, NZ House and Garden and NZ Gardener, launched her first two cookbooks with New Holland Publishers, and created the Festival Italiano through the Dante Society.

Alessandra at the Festival Italiano 2018, received the Ordine della Stella D'Italian honour from Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Marcelli for her services to promoting Italian culture internationally

From 2008 we have worked exclusively through Oratia, with 2009 marking the launch of the company’s own book list, initially under the Libro International brand and since 2016 as Oratia Books. Over that time we’ve published close on 150 books (both our own and for others), while writing and editing several million words in articles, books and reports around the world. 

Our first major commissioned book, the late Graeme Hunt's history of St John in New Zealand, 2009

None of this would have been possible without our clients (for details see https://www.oratia.co.nz/services/), or talented authors and illustrators (thank you to everyone listed at https://www.oratia.co.nz/authors/). Then there are the brilliant booksellers, librarians and teachers who support us, and our fine team of regular and freelance professionals. 

Among the ‘Oratia family’ our heartfelt thanks to Editorial Director Carolyn Lagahetau, who has been a key player since 2008, and to Marketing Consultant Belinda Cooke for her exceptional contribution since 2015.

Taking life seriously with our dream team, from left: designer Cheryl Smith, marketing supremo Belinda Cooke, illustrator Ross Kinnaird, editorial director Carolyn Lagahetau, author Dawn McMillan and Peter

Without wishing to omit anyone, special appreciation to designer Cheryl Smith of Macarn Design and more recently Sarah Elworthy; former marketing manager Isabell Zitzelsberger; editors Mike Bradstock, Susan Brierley, Frances Chan and Patricia Greig; sales reps Jeremy Bliss, Peter Gray, Dennis Morgan and Gary Shannon; Marie Edwards, Toni Hayman, Sue Kellett and team at our distributors Publishers Distribution Ltd; and web designers Isra Salcedo (Humilde Servidor) and Daisuke Hirata (Box Media). 

Carolyn Lagahetau with the late Graeme Leather

And we remember those who are no longer with us: the beloved designer and editor Graeme Leather, sales supremo Paul Greenberg, and authors Trixie Harvey, Graeme Hunt, Gavin McLean, Don Stafford and Pā Henare Tate.

The late Pā Henare Tate (right) with Sister Magdalen Sheahan (centre) receiving the Māori Book Award for his He Puna Iti i te Ao Mārama in 2013

Author Malcolm Paterson with son Davin at the Going West Writers Festival 2016

Student volunteer Coline Rouge promoting our books at the IBBY World Congress in Auckland, 2016

Internationally we count on some fine distributors: thanks to Charles Goulding at John Reed Books (Australia), Joel Cosseboom and Royden Muranaka at University of Hawai’i Press (North America) and Melanie Warren and team at Gazelle Book Services in Lancaster (UK and Europe). Chris Shaw and the crew at Book Systems International get the books from our printers and out to book fairs.

Sub-agents like Fanny Yu at CA-Link in Beijing, Anna Spadolini and her agency in Milan, and Pablo de la Vega at Base Tres in Guadalajara help us reach many markets. 

Peter managing the first-ever New Zealand stand at the Guadalajara International Book Fair, 2017, with assistant Claudia Esqueda

Voluntary and community activities are an important part of Oratia’s culture, with long-standing commitments to the Dante Society, Slowfood Auckland, Te Potiki National Trust (Māori Maps), Oratia District School, Storylines Children’s Literature Foundation and the Publishers Association of New Zealand. 

Paora Tapsell, chair of Te Potiki National Trust, presenting the trust's annual Hawea Vercoe Memorial Scholarship to Ihaka Wilson at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Rotoiti, September 2019

And to mark the 20^th anniversary, we’ve just agreed new, ongoing sponsorships of the Native Forest Restoration Trust and Outward Bound NZ.

It’s a privilege to be here still after two decades doing the work we love from a place we love. Ngā manaakitanga ki a koutou kātoa i tautoko I a Oratia i ēnei tau i mua, ā, ka mahi ngatahi tonu ā muri ake nei. Grazie e arrivederci al 2040!

Publishing Perspectives reports on New Zealand's presence at the Guadalajara Book Fair

 

Publishing Perspectives, one of the major news sources for the international publishing industry, has featured New Zealand strongly in its coverage of the recently concluded Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL). 

Journalist Adam Critchley interviewed Peter Dowling at the fair in his role as Publishers Association of New Zealand international councillor, and as publisher at Oratia Books. 

Peter pictured on the PANZ stand in Guadalajara

Click here for the full article, which also features publishers and agents from Egypt, France and the UK. 

Publishing Perspectives shared a photo of this yoga session conducted as part of India's guest of honour programme at the Guadalajara International Book Fair in early December

Toitoi Media publisher Charlotte Gibbs and Huia Publishers executive director Brian Morris also attended the FIL, both for the first time. 

You can read Charlotte's account of the experience here. 

Sharjah International Book Fair: a meeting ground for world books

There's no doubting the rise of the United Arab Emirates as a crossroads for books, ideas and writing. 

Looking to and from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce, site of the Publishers Conference

And the emirate of Sharjah is at the forefront of efforts to encourage more reading, translation and cultural exchange with the Arab-speaking world.

The emirate has devoted significant resources to its annual Sharjah International Book Fair, and invited over 400 publishers to a three-day conference ahead of the fair's opening last Wednesday 30 October. 

Faisal Al Nabouda of the Sharjah Book Authority opens the conference

The Sharjah Book Authority put together a fascinating few days for this first-timer to the Middle East. The first day had a global focus, and I was pleased to be part of the opening seminar looking at trends in the world publishing scene. 

The session, moderated by IBIIDI Books managing director and Book Depository co-founder Emad Eldeen Elakehal, brought in esteemed Sourcebooks founder Dominique Raccah, Ghana Publishers Association president Elliot Agyare and Austin Macauley international publishing director Jade Robertson for a lively discussion of key influences including digital, audio, indigenous languages and globalisation.

Mahmoud Lutfi, brother of IPA 2019 Prix Voltaire recipient Khaled Lutfi, imprisoned in Egypt for his publishing work 

Day two provided insights into the Arabic markets for books and freedom to publish issues globally, with day three shedding light on the challenges and opportunities of book publishing and libraries across Africa.

Bodour Al Qasimi, International Publishers Association vice president and founder of UAE publishing house Kalimat, closing the Publishers Conference

Business meetings and networking events throughout the conference enabled exchanges with publishers from the Middle East, Africa and around the world. 

Signing rights contracts for some of Oratia's children's books with Nancy Liu, director of overseas marketing, People & Tangel Publishing, Beijing

I was able to explore rights and distribution openings in meetings with colleagues from a couple of dozen countries — representing Oratia, Massey University Press and Te Papa Press lists, as well as investigating for the Kiwi book industry on behalf of the Publishers Association of NZ. 

Business meetings with publishers from the region (clockwise from top left): from Mozambique, Sandra Tamele (Editora Trinta Zero Nove); from Jordan, Rami Abu Slayyeh (Jabal Amman); from Bangladesh, Lutfur Rahman Chowdhury (Sandesh)

Invited publishers were also treated to a dinner at Sharjah Book City, an ambitious complex that houses the regional hubs of international book companies. 

Salim Omar Salim of the Sharjah Book Authority with Tony Mulliken of Midas PR, welcoming guests to Sharjah Book City

Sheik Sultan III bin Muhammad, the ruler of Sharjah, opened the fair proper in a lavish ceremony on the Wednesday morning, speaking of the cultural advances that Emirati society has made over the past 40 years. 

"The book is now installed in the culture of every family and home," the Sheikh said, expressing his desire to restore the nation to its traditional role as a source of culture and humanitarianism.


Coverage of the fair and conference from local newspapers the Khaleej Times and Gulf Today

The fair was a buzz of activity, prefacing a busy nine days that will draw some 1 million visitors to browse and buy books. 


Wonderful hospitality at the busy fair opening from the Sharjah Ministry of Culture

There's also a full schedule of author and illustrator appearances, and it was fantastic to attend the opening address to the fair by Turkish author and Nobel Literature Prize laureate Orhan Pamuk. 



I left Sharjah with a much clearer idea of how books fit in to the Arab world, and fresh confidence that New Zealand publishing can become a part of that world.

My sincere thanks to the Sharjah Book Authority and the hard-working team at Midas PR, who made this memorable exchange possible for international publishers.

Below: around the aisles on day one of the Sharjah International Book Fair