Review of the New Zealand Geographic Board Act 1946

• Summary and Analysis of Submissions
• Background
• Purpose of the review
• Key issues
• Finding out more
• Contact us
• What's happening now?

Background

The Government has decided that the New Zealand Geographic Board Act 1946 should be reviewed. Put into place over 50 years ago the Act was an enlightened piece of legislation for its time. It established the New Zealand Geographic Board as the official place naming authority for New Zealand, recognised the importance of Māori place names and allowed for public consultation over place naming.

The Board is an independent body which reports to the Minister for Land Information. Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) provides administrative support to the Board.

Purpose of the review

The New Zealand Geographic Board Act 1946 has generally stood the test of time but now needs to take into account changes which affect its jurisdictional, consultative and administrative provisions. The review of the Act will:

• clarify the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Geographic Board
• revise procedures for public participation in the place naming process
• consider the composition and membership of the Board
• ensure the provisions of the Act align more clearly with the Treaty of Waitangi
• modernise the Act's administrative and procedural provisions.

Key issues

Jurisdiction

Under existing legislation, the Board is responsible for naming all geographic features (including undersea features within the 12 nautical mile territorial limit). Since the Act was passed in 1946, New Zealand has become more involved in administration of the Ross Dependency (including survey, mapping and charting activities) while strengthening the Antarctic Treaty System established in 1959. Also, we have begun defining the outer limits of our continental shelf in order to claim sovereign rights under the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea.

The review proposes to include a definition of New Zealand in the revised legislation and extend the Board's jurisdiction under the Act to include its interests in the naming of geographic and undersea features within the (still to be defined) continental shelf area and in the Ross Dependency.

The review will consider whether responsibility for administrative names should be formally devolved to territorial authorities (for suburb and locality names) and the Department of Conservation (for protected conservation area names). The review will also consider whether it is necessary to establish protocols and standards to ensure consistent administrative area naming by territorial authorities and the Department of Conservation.

Consultation

The current legislation doesn't expressly spell out the right of individuals and organisations to make place name submissions to the Board although many already do so. The review proposes that the Act be changed to explicitly ensure such a right.

Since its inception the Board has paid attention to Māori place names. In recent years a consultation process for Māori place names has evolved. To enable iwi to communicate directly with the Board the review proposes that consultation with Māori should be carried out by members or staff of the Board.

There is a different consultation process for place names established under the Treaty of Waitangi settlement process. While the Board is asked for comment and advice on place names under Treaty of Waitangi claims, the names do not go through the Board's usual consultation process. It is proposed that place names or name changes proposed under the settlement process go through the Board's usual consultation process before being incorporated into a Deed of Settlement.

Board membership and administration

The changes proposed by the review may result in changes to composition and administration of the Board. Expansion of the Board's jurisdiction and activities may justify an increase in the number of Board members. The type of people appointed and the way they are appointed may also need to change.

Finding out more

Summary and Analysis of Submissions

You can download the Summary and Analysis of Submissions here (pdf 531KB)

Discussion paper

You can view the discussion paper online or download a printable version (pdf 677KB).

Hardcopies can be requested from LINZ by phoning 0800 665 463 or emailing info@linz.govt.nz

Information brochure

You can download a copy of the information brochure here (pdf 51KB). Hardcopies can be requested from LINZ by phoning 0800 665 463 or emailing info@linz.govt.nz

Ministerial statement

You can view a copy of the statement from Hon John Tamihere, Minister for Land Information here.

New Zealand Geographic Board

Find out more about the New Zealand Geographic Board

Contact us

If you have any questions about the review process or submission process please phone 0800 665 463 or email info@linz.govt.nz

What's happening now?

In June 2005, Cabinet agreed on policy proposals for a new New Zealand Geographic Board Act.

On 7 August 2007, Parliament referred The New Zealand Geographic Board (Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa) Bill to the Government Administration Select Committee. A copy of the Bill is available from the New Zealand Parliament website. Read a media release from the Minister of Land Information.

The Select committee will consider the Bill in detail and call for submissions, allowing further public comment on the changes being proposed.