* Papa: Meaning "earth," "ground," or "land"
* Moa: Referring to the extinct giant bird, the moa.
Therefore, "Papamoa" could be interpreted as "the land of the moa" or "the moa's land".
However, it's important to note that the exact meaning and origin of the name are debated among Māori scholars. Some believe it might be a later interpretation, and the original meaning may have been lost over time.