Aotearoa.
Lovely Place Names of New Zealand.

Sat a poet idly dreaming, Far and long into the night,
Burnt his candle all unheeded,
For his muse had taken flight.
Drew his atlas idly to him,
Turned its pages through and through,
Suddenly its names came crowding,
“Let us see what we can do!”
Then they formed in ranks before him,
Four and four and four abreast,
And they watched and waited gently,
While he put them to the test.
Quick as thought he glanced them over, Took one here, and took one there.
Found that, stringing them together, He could make a poem rare.
Waiareka, Whakapara, Whangaroa, Waihopai, Onewhero, Otahuhu, Onerahi, Otukai, Manawatu, Matamata, Maunganui, Mamaku, Tongariro, Tarawera, Taranaki, Timaru, Whakatane, Wanganui, Waitemata, Waikanae, Rotorua, Rangiora, Ruahine, Ruawai, Papakura, Pukekohe, Pakaraka, Pekerau, Katikati, Kerikeri, Tikitiki, Takapau.

—N. Langley.

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