EVERY baby born at Mater Mothers’ Hospital is special.
However, none has a name as unique as Parewahawaha Hinareia Tupulua Teataahia Appleby Kawana-Lambert Ikitau.
She had the longest name of any of the 1,700 babies cared for in the Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU) at Mater Mothers’ Hospital last year.
First-time mum Hinepukohurangi Kawana-Lambert and her partner Penaia Ikitau, both 21, said they gave the choice of their daughter’s first name to her grandparents, who plumped for Parewahawaha.
“My parents didn’t tell me her name until I was six months’ pregnant, but when I heard it for the first time, I fell in love with it,” Ms Kawana-Lambert, who is of Māori descent, said.
Parewahawaha is named after seven generations of women from her grandmother’s family.
Her second name, Hinareia, means Cinderella.
“Her name is very unique in my culture,” Ms Kawana-Lambert said.
“My mum calls her a little princess, so the Cinderella part of her name is very fitting.
“She is also named after Ranginui Parewahawaha Leonard, a New Zealand weaver, farmer and respected elder who died in 1984 aged 112.”
The most popular names at Mater for girls in 2024 were Charlotte, Olivia and Amelia, with Theodore, Oliver and Henry topping the chart for boys.
Mater Director of Neonatology Dr Pita Birch said staff were often intrigued by the names the unit’s babies were given.
“It’s really nice to hear the meaning behind a lot of the unusual names,” Dr Birch said.
“We have had a few babies named after plants, gems, seasons and months, and so much more.
“Interestingly, we also had around 280 babies who were discharged without a name.”
Top 5 NCCU names for girls
Charlotte, Olivia, Grace, Amelia, Violet.
Top 5 NCCU names for boys
Theodore, Oliver, Henry, Noah, Archie.
