Public Consultation on Proposal to Alter Spelling of Wanganui Ends

18 August 2008: Media release

The public submission period has ended for a proposal by the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (the Board) to alter the spelling of Wanganui city to ‘Whanganui’.

When submissions closed at 5pm 17 August 2009 approximately 880 submissions had been received. Most of these were sent via an online submission form, the first time this service had been offered for a place name proposal.

Board chairperson Dr Don Grant thanked those who took the time to make a submission. “The proposal is clearly of interest to many people. The online submission form has been a great success and we’ll consider using it again in future,” he said.

Dr Grant said all the submissions will be considered when the Board meets in Wellington on 16 September.

The Board’s decision will be made public on 17 September. A summary of the submissions will also be available from this date.

For more information see:

• frequently asked questions about Whanganui
• 25 May 2009 media release: Statement from the New Zealand Geographic Board regarding the outcome of the Wanganui Referendum 09
• 14 May 2009 media release: New Zealand Geographic Board public consultation open for name proposals
• 30 March 2009 media release: New Zealand Geographic Board to publicly consult on ‘h’ in Wanganui.

Media enquiries: Dave Chowdhury, Land Information New Zealand, phone +64 4 496 5402, mobile +64 27 222 9566, email media@linz.govt.nz.