The New Zealand Geographic Board
Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa

The process of accepting or rejecting geographical and hydrographic names within New Zealand and its territorial waters is the responsibility of the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa.

The Board recognises that place names should be the product of careful and informed decisions. Constituted under the New Zealand Geographic Board Act 1946, the Board is an independent body responsible to the Minister for Land Information.

Functions of the Board

• to adopt rules of naming
• to examine cases of doubtful spelling
• to investigate and determine the priority of discovery
• to collect original Māori place names for recording on official maps
• to encourage the use of original Māori place names
• to determine what foreign names should be replaced by Māori or British names
• to investigate any proposed alteration of a place name or any proposed new name
• to make any inquiries and recommendations on any matter referred to it by the Minister

The Board undertakes to assign placenames for small urban settlements, localities, mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, harbours and any other natural features.

It has, however, no authority to change the name of local authority districts or regions (unless those districts have first agreed to the change).

Streets and roads are named by local authorities.

National parks and reserves are named by the Department of Conservation which consults with the Board.

The Surveyor-General is Chair of the Board, which comprises seven other members appointed under the Act. They have responsibility for place naming in New Zealand including: the Kermadec, Chatham, Auckland, Campbell, and other offshore Islands; the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica; and within the territorial waters of New Zealand.

At the present time, the members of the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa are:

• Dr Don Grant, Surveyor-General/Chair
• Ms Sylvia Allan
• Dr Sir Tipene O'Regan
• Dr Wharehuia Milroy
• Mr David Barnes
• Dr Kay Booth
• Dr Apirana Mahuika
• Professor Michael Roche

The Gazette Notice of reappointments/appointments is on page 164, 25 January 2007 on the Department of Internal Affairs website. Apart from the Chair, whose membership is ex-officio, each member's term is for three years commencing on 1 February 2007.

See also the Minister's press release - New Zealand Geographic Board Members Reappointed and Appointed.

An "original Māori place-name" means any Māori place name that is recognised by the tangata whenua (people of the land) as one historically associated with a place within their tribal boundary.

If you need further information, contact The New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa.

Secretary for the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa
c/- Land Information New Zealand
160 Lambton Quay
Private Box 5501
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND

phone: 64-4-460 0581
fax: 64-4-460 0112
cell: 027 4807 082
or complete the contact us form.