New Māori name created for submerged continent Zealandia

Thursday, 9 May 2019

The new name for the mostly submerged continent to which New Zealand belongs is Te Riu-a-Māui/Zealandia

Zealandia, the mostly submerged continent on which New Zealand sits, has been given a Māori name.

GNS Science, which played a big role in bringing the existence of Zealandia to the world's attention, said the New Zealand Geographic Board had wanted a Māori perspective considered for the name.

That would be achieved by making connections between the places where Māori migrated from, and whenua/land and kiwa/sea, GNS said. That was widened to a name that was acceptable to both Māori and Pasifika.

GNS approached Associate Professor Mānuka Hēnare, of Auckland University, to recommend a Māori name that reflected the nature and position of the continent.

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The name he came up with is Te Riu-a-Māui, meaning the hills, valleys and plains of Māui. It is being combined with the existing name, making the full name of the 4.9 million square kilometre continent Te Riu-a-Māui/Zealandia.

'Māui is an ancestor of all Polynesians. He sailed and explored the great ocean and caught the fish which he and his crew pulled up. The fish became many of the islands we know today,' GNS said.

'Riu is defined in the Māori Dictionary as the hull (of a canoe), a basin (eg Waikato basin), a belly, the core (of a body). It is the whole that holds the parts together. Te Riu-a-Māui brings together geological science and the traditional oral narratives of Māui's exploits across the Pacific Ocean.'

Wendy Shaw, the secretary for the NZ Geographical Board told Stuff, it's possible the board could favour the Māori name, rather than a dual name.

'The advice given is that there definitely should be a Māori name, perhaps a dual name, or perhaps just the Māori name on its own.'

To become the official name of the continent, e Riu-a-Māui/Zealandia needs to be presented to the board for approval. From there, it is subject to public submissions and analysis, which could take over a year.

Shaw said the board has the ability to accept the proposal, or potentially 'go with something different'.

GNS said it was working to use the dual name.

'The initial focus of GNS Science is to get it in general circulation and informally accepted. Then we can judge if formal recognition is desirable and possible.'

The first major use of the new name was for an exhibit that formed part of Te Papa's new $12 million nature zone, Te Taiao Nature.

Hēnare was instrumental in naming three ships for the Royal New Zealand Navy - Te Kaha, Te Maru, and Te Mana - and was well practised at recommending names acceptable across the Pacific.

If submitted for approval, the next NZ Geographical Board meeting will be held on June 20, with submissions finalised between six to eight weeks prior.