The main Māori name for Auckland is Tāmaki Makaurau. A shorter form Tāmaki is also used, and you may see the fuller phrase Tāmaki-makau- rau , often translated along the lines of “Tāmaki of a hundred lovers” or “Tāmaki desired by many,” referring to how many groups have coveted the area for its fertile land, waterways, and strategic location.