Funny place names

[Hepcat]

Well Whakarewarewa and Whakatane are 2 places not very far from where I live. It is so funny hearing American tourists trying to pronounce them after hearing someone else say it. This is because in Maori 'Wha' is pronounced similar to 'Far' and while we think nothing of saying it, Americans always hesitate or purposely pronounce it wrong because it sounds exactly like swearing.

Then there is one story my math teacher told me (he is from England) about when he first started staying in NZ. One of his Scottish friends told him "Come with us we're going to Whakatane." and his response was "OK, but whats a Tane?"


Pretty bad joke, I know.