Notable place name proposals

Whanganui proposal

Early in 2009, the Board received a proposal from local iwi to correct the spelling of the city name of Wanganui to Whanganui. The Board agreed that the proposal had sufficient merit to begin a statutory three month public consultation in May 2009, with the public asked to either object, support or provide alternatives.

Media attention was significant and steps were taken to provide as much information as possible about the proposal, the Board’s processes and how to make a submission. An online consultation mechanism was developed to help the public to make submissions.

The Board was due to consider the submissions at a meeting on 16 September 2009.

North Island and South Island alternative Māori names

The Board began considering another significant naming proposal to assign alternative Māori names for New Zealand’s North and South islands alongside the currently used names, North and South Island.

Feedback was sought from iwi on known traditional names for the islands, and a decision on which names the Board wishes to support will be made in 2010. Those names, along with the formalising of the names North and South Islands, will proceed to public notification for an extended submission period, during which people can object, support or provide alternatives.

Hillary name proposals

The death of Sir Edmund Hillary in early 2008 led to considerable media attention given to suggestions that a major geographical feature be named after him. A small number of formal name proposals were then submitted to the Board. These are on hold as it is Board practice, in line with international practice, to wait a minimum of two years after a death as a measure of respect and to allow people sufficient time to make their proposals. The Board used web information and media responses to provide information to the public. Lady Hillary was contacted by the Chair and agreed with the two-year deferral period.