David,
The
Oxford Dictionary of New Zealand English has a long section about the word. There are various Maori/English dictionaries but I haven't found one which can be referred to alphabetically in both languages. I own two which are just Maori/English but have no English/Maori section.
I know the word Aotearoa as I know my own name. Originally it referred just to the North Island but it is now used for all the islands.
Your spelling is not phonetic because it misses out an essential vowel. Maori spelling is phonetic in the way that Italian is.
The name is A-o-te-a-ro-a. 6 syllables. They are run together but all are pronounced. It doesn't bump your poem. The word is made from three separate words.
ao tea roa land of the long white cloud or as the Oxford dictionary says--more accurately "Land of the long day" or "Land of the long twilight.".
There is an agreed standard spelling.
Maori is widely spoken now and there are many references. Maori is written in our Roman alphabet. There have been Maori scholars and lawyers, politicians and poets who are very literate and articulate, almost since European settlement. A standard language reference is by Bruce Biggs, "Let's Learn Maori". He spells it
Aotearoa.
It is pronounced rather like Italian. There are minor differences in various tribal pronunciations but they can all speak to each other. Unlike the Australian Aborigines who are like Europe in that they are made up of a huge variety of languages and cultures with little in common. It's why the Maoris survived the Europeans better than did the Aborigines.
A few examples:
http://www.nzedge.com/heroes/buck.html
http://www.aotearoa.co.nz/bones/
http://www.museums-aotearoa.org.nz/
http://www.webgrrls.org.nz/
http://www.aotearoa.co.nz/
http://www.literacy.org.nz/
http://www.caritas.org.nz/
http://www.anglican.org.nz/
http://www.artsaccess.org.nz/
http://www.polynesia.com/islands/newzealand.html
Don't mistake me. You have successfully caught the feeling of New Zealand and that is a great accomplishment for a non-New Zealander. I only make a point of this because it is the actual name of the country. Many of us hope that it will become the first name. I went to school near Mount Egmont which has resumed its real name of Taranaki.
very best,
Janet
[This message has been edited by Janet Kenny (edited August 16, 2004).]