Do you love playing Taonga as much as we do? Well, if you're like us and have been wondering why use the name "Taonga"? Is it just a made-up word for a virtual farm game? If not, what is it really and what does it mean?

We did some digging and have found that Taonga means so much more than most people would think. If you're interested to learn more about the title of your favorite farm game, make sure to stick around and read on!

What is "Taonga"?

"Taonga" actually comes from the Māori language, which means "treasured possession" in their culture. The word changes slightly in its spelling and pronunciation, from "Taonga" to "Taoka", if you head over to South Island Māori instead.

Now, the treasured possession here may mean a whole host of things, both tangible and non-tangible, though generally, Taonga is used to indicate anything of historical and cultural significance. This would mean that it encompasses heirlooms, artifacts, land, language, spiritual beliefs, fisheries and other natural resources as well as access to said natural resources.

Once you understand what "Taonga" means, you would quickly realize, much like we did, how fitting the word is for a farm game where natural resources are in abundance and that you'll need to really make use of your environment to develop your farm. After all, your farm IS your "treasured possession" in this game!

The Significance of the Word "Taonga"

For most of us, "Taonga" is the title of the farm game that we just can't play enough of, but for many in New Zealand, it meant so much more.

You see, back when New Zealand was a British colony, the British made a treaty with the Northern Māori chiefs called the Treaty of Waitangi. The thing is, there are two versions of it - one in the local Māori text and the other in English. The content, especially the part regarding sovereignty, differs greatly between the two, with the word "Taonga", which was used in the treaty to "translate" the phrase "other properties", being the center of the debate.

On one side of the aisle, you'll have people who defended "Taonga" as the right for everything that's deemed "treasured" by the tribes, which in modern times may include stuff like radio frequency spectrum and intellectual property. On the other side, the word "Taonga" is translated in a more traditional sense, which includes natural resources and the right to defend the Māori culture and way of life.

There's no real answer to the issue and both sides have their own points to present. Usually, when it comes to cases involving "Taonga", it all boils down to the courts to decide.

Other Interesting Facts about "Taonga"

Did you know that since "Taonga" means "treasured possession", many of the museums in New Zealand uses the word when coming up with a Māori name?

For instance, the Waikato Museum is called "Te Whare Taonga o Waikato" while the New Zealand Film Archive is called "Ngā Kaitiaki O Ngā Taonga Whitiāhua".

P/S: All buildings and places in New Zealand have two names - one in English and the other in Māori.

In Conclusion

Knowing more about the origin of the title of the game you love is always an enlightening process, especially when most people wouldn't even be bothered to look up the word. So, the next time you chat with your fellow farmers on Taonga, send them the link to this article and let them know that "taonga" is more than it seems!