For Australians, one of the first things that strike you when you start to drive around New Zealand are the names of the places.
You see, many places in NZ use their traditional Maori name. Which is really cool. It’s just that some of them are bloody hard to pronounce.
And before anyone gets tetchy, I know that Kiwis in Australia have just as much trouble with Uluru, Woolloomooloo, Sudney, and Brusbane.
Like I said, ours are different countries, which is why this blog is dedicated to deciphering NZ for you all.
Anyway, during the last few days, there has been a bit of controversy because Wanganui is thinking of changing its name to the correct Maori spelling of Whanganui.
A small difference you might think, just a trifling matter.
Personally I couldn’t care less, as I’m sure I’ve heard both versions being used anyway.
But it’s not a completely trivial issue, because the pronunciation of the “wh” is one of the biggest traps for a foreigner.
To explain the difference, take the classic example of the town of Whakatane. I want you to say it out loud.
Done it? Good.
Now, if you’re an Aussie, you probably just said whack-a-taine. Fair enough, that’s what it looks like. But you’re way off base.
The “wh” is actually pronounced as a “f” sound. So you should actually be saying fuck-a-ta-nay. True story.
Now let me tell you, when you hear an old lady of little kid say this, it gives you pause. It’s not often you get the f-bomb being incorporated into names of towns.
I think it’s brilliant, but let me tell you, when you first move over here, it can be really whuking conwhusing.
alannah said
aaah so so true.
for schoolies last year i went over to nz with my sister and we road tripped it quite a bit, and i found it quite amusing when she told me how to pronounce whakapapa.
Jaqi said
Eesh! I live in NZ now, home was Zimbabwe – and you find pronounciation difficult???? Lol – not just the wh’s, but also the ng’s. In Zim, ng is a hard sound – so ngwenya (crocodile) is pronounced in-gwen-ya. I come to NZ, and see the word Ngauranga (Gorge). I pronounce it In-ga-ran-ga. Keewees look at me funny – it’s said now-rang-ah *blush*
Dave said
Don’t forget that Nth Island and Sth Island Maori pronounce “wh” differently anyway…