Aotearoa

Maori make up 15% of the NZ population.  NZ, as the 'youngest country on earth', was settled only 700 years ago by Polynesians who then developed their own unique culture.

Although European settlers were less than kind to the indigenous people, Maori culture is encouraged/supported here now.  For instance, all government and social services websites and publications are bilingual.  It's not a bilingual country like Canada, though-- it's more like in southern California, where it's just useful to print things a second time in Spanish.  There's also a Maori channel on TV (there is a 'learn te reo Maori' show for pakehas like me to learn a bit of the language), a Maori cartoon on one of the mainstream channels, a Maori political party which has 15% of the parliament seats, and Maori art is all over in public installations.  Unfortunately, it seems as if the group is still somewhat marginalized, living for the most part in the low-SES parts of town, with the usual attendant social problems.

Many of the names on the map that I have a hard time pronouncing are Maori in origin.  Otahuhu, Manukau, Waingarei, Roturua-- all towns I want to visit.

Aotearoa:  The Land of the Long White Cloud, aka New Zealand
Tamaki:  original name of the settlement that became Auckland
Maungakiekie:  a fortified village or pa up on a hilltop, now One Tree Hill park in the middle of town