The Māori name for New Zealand, meaning 'land of the long white cloud,' reflecting the country's appearance and Polynesian heritage.
From Māori language: 'aote' or 'ao' (cloud, day) plus 'tea' (white) plus 'roa' (long). This indigenous name reflects Māori observation of New Zealand's distinctive cloud formations and has been increasingly used alongside the English name.
Aotearoa is a perfect example of how indigenous names capture something true about a place—early Māori navigators would have seen those long white clouds from far at sea, making it an ideal marker for finding this remote island nation!
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