Place Names
Aotearoa New Zealand
What’s in a name? We look at where our country’s names come from. Audio
What happens when a place changes its name?
People get fired up when it's suggested the name of their town is changed - so what's involved in re-naming a place? Audio
Place names tell a story about lost species
Place names turn out to be a good record of where plants and animals once occurred and where they have been lost. Audio
Our Changing World for 6 December 2018
Resistance training is the best way to keep muscles strong as we age, and what place names tell us about plants and animals that used to be found there. Audio
Poverty Bay votes for dual name
Gisborne District councillor Meredith Akuhata-Brown explains why she thinks the name Poverty Bay should be dropped altogether. Her comments come after the Council voted to submit to the NZ Geographic… Audio
Masterpieces with Peter Dowling
Editor and publisher Peter Dowling is our guest on masterpieces this week and is here to talk about his favourite maori place names. Audio, Gallery
Protection for names of wineries
Legislation is expected to come into force next year which will protect the place names associated with some of our most successful export wines. Audio
Three controversial place names may soon be replaced
Three of New Zealand's most offensive and controversial place names will be replaced if the public supports a proposal before the Geographic Board. Audio
Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori - place names
Here are a few commonly mispronounced place names to master. Audio
Un-naming geographical locations
A Wellington-based artist has "un-named" a South Island glacier as she endeavors to wipe out references to a 19th century geologist who's now been dubbed racist. Rob Mitchell of the Federation of… Audio
Unnaming a glacier
Sasha Huber is travelling the world, unnaming things named after nineteenth century Swiss-born naturalist and glaciologist Louis Agassiz. Her latest unnaming ceremony has been held in New Zealand, at… Audio
Letter writers at ready: Wanganui vs Whanganui
How we deal with Wanganui and Whanganui at Radio New Zealand has caused much debate in the past few years. Audio
Place names: Southland
Invercargill, Gore, Bluff, Takitimu Mountains, Riverton Aparima, Raiura Stewart Islands, Bush names: with Peter Dowling, revising editor of AW Reed's 'Place Names of New Zealand'. Audio
Place names: Dunedin
The Edinburgh of the south - Musselburgh, St Claire, St Kilda, Macandrew Bay: with Peter Dowling, revising editor of AW Reed's 'Place Names of New Zealand'. Audio
Place names: Christchurch
The etymological and cultural origins of the garden city's names: Bryndwr, Glandovey Road, Taylors Mistake, Murrays Mistake, Hoon Hay, New Brighton, Shirley. Audio
Place names: wars and battles
Crimea Range, Mt Sebastopol, Alma, Raglan, St Arnaud, Blenheim, Havelock, Cromwell, Bannockburn, Naseby, Twizel, Meeanee, Napier, Kirwee: with Peter Dowling, revising editor of AW Reed's dictionary of… Audio
Place names: Wellington
Port Nicholson, Lambton Quay, Whanganui-a-Tara, Khandallah, Karori, Kelburn, Oriental Bay: with Peter Dowling, revising editor of AW Reed's dictionary of New Zealand place names. Audio
Place names: Scandinavian
Dannevirke, Norsewood, Berlins: with Peter Dowling, revising editor of AW Reed's dictionary of New Zealand place names. Audio
Place names: Auckland
Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland, Mount Eden, Manukau, Waitemata, One Tree Hill, Ponsonby, Mission Bay, Okahu Bay: with Peter Dowling, revising editor of AW Reed's 'Place Names of New Zealand'. Audio