North Island and South Island NZGB decisions - 17 October 2013

Final determination to assign Alternative Geographic Names to the North Island / Te Ika-a-Māui and the South Island / Te Waipounamu.

Notice of the Final Determinations of the Minister for Land Information to Assign Official Alternative Geographic Names

Pursuant to section 16 of the New Zealand Geographic Board (Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa) Act 2008 (“Act”), notice was given in the New Zealand Gazette, 4 April 2013, No. 39, page 1192, of proposals by the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (“Board”) to assign alternative official geographic names.

Submissions received for the official alternative geographic name proposals were dealt with by the Board according to section 18 of the Act. 

After considering a report from the Board, I hereby declare that my final determinations for the official alternative geographic names, made pursuant to sections 20(2) and 20(3) of the Act and, as specified in the first column of the Schedule below (“Schedule”), are now the official alternative geographic names. 

The geographic feature type that the official alternative geographic names relate to is set out in the second column of the Schedule. 

The descriptions for these official alternative geographic names are set out in the third column of the Schedule. 

The date on which I made my decisions was 10 October 2013. My final determinations on these names shall take effect on 17 October 2013.

Official alternative geographic nameGeographic feature typeDescription
North IslandIslandThe northern of the two main islands of New Zealand, centred around NZTM 1865000E, 5674000N. Official alternative geographic name is Te Ika-a-Māui.
Te Ika-a-MāuiIslandThe northern of the two main islands of New Zealand, centred around NZTM 1865000E, 5674000N. Official alternative geographic name is North Island.
South IslandIslandThe southern of the two main islands of New Zealand, centred around NZTM 1446000E, 5177000N. Official alternative geographic name is Te Waipounamu.
Te WaipounamuIslandThe southern of the two main islands of New Zealand, centred around NZTM 1446000E, 5177000N. Official alternative geographic name is South Island.

Dated at Wellington this 17th day of October 2013.
HON. Maurice Williamson, Minister for Land Information.