What’s in a name? If you happen to find yourself in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, you might want to check out a mountain there. Be aware, however, that the last thing you want to do is stop and ask for directions. That’s because the mountain's name in the Maori language is:
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu
The name is so long (85 letters) that it holds the record for the longest name in the world with Guinness World Records. Translated, the name means "The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the slider, climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled about, played his kōauau (flute) to his loved one.” For locals, the name is shorted to Taumata. The name also has some entertainment value. It’s the subject of a 1960 song by the New Zealand balladeer Peter Cape, and it’s featured in the 1979 hit single “The Lone Ranger” by the British band Quantum Jump.
