Aotearoa (Māori: [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) is the Māori-language name for New Zealand. The name was originally used by Māori in reference only to the North Island, with the whole country being referred to as Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu (North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Island (Te Waipounamu)). In the pre-European era, Māori did not have a collective name for the two islands.
Several meanings for Aotearoa have been proposed; the most popular translation usually given is “land of the long white cloud”, or variations thereof. This refers to the cloud formations which helped early Polynesian navigators find the country.
spoiler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aotearoa
Aotearoa (Māori: [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) is the Māori-language name for New Zealand. The name was originally used by Māori in reference only to the North Island, with the whole country being referred to as Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu (North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Island (Te Waipounamu)). In the pre-European era, Māori did not have a collective name for the two islands.
Several meanings for Aotearoa have been proposed; the most popular translation usually given is “land of the long white cloud”, or variations thereof. This refers to the cloud formations which helped early Polynesian navigators find the country.