Poutākoro Head Place Name Proposal Report

On this page:

• 8 November 2006 Putakoro Head Place Name Proposal Report
• 20 April 2007 Putakoto Head Place Name Proposal Report
• 9 November 2007 Putakoto Head Place Name Proposal Report
• 7 April 2008 Putakoto Head Place Name Proposal Report
• 27 March 2009 Putakoto Head Place Name Proposal Report
• 16 September 2009 Poutākoro Head Place Name Proposal Report

This report is also available in PDF Poutākoro Head Place Name Proposal Report (PDF 2.03MB).

Putakoro Head Place Name Proposal Report 8 November 2006

• Coastal feature along Banks Peninsula
• spelling correction.

General Background

This place name was noted by Professor Wharehuia Milroy at the workshop on Generic Geographic Features held on 21 February 2006. Currently misspelt as Putakolo Head and published on mapping and survey plans as follows:

Not considered by the Board through its statutory process and no archives records exist.

Meaning/Translation

Putakoto could have many meanings. Literally (from Williams) Puta means an opening, hole or perforation; move from one place to another; pass through; come; escape, survive; appear, come into sight; be born. Literally (from Williams) Koto means loathing, averse; small, of no account; pull up; sob or make low sound. ‘Place-names of Banks Peninsula: A Topographical History’ by Johannes Carl Andersen, published in 1927, records this name as Putakolo Head describing:“It is spelt Puta-Kolo on the F.C.B.P. [French chart of Banks Peninsula, prepared in 1844-45 by officers of Le Rhin], and Poutokoro on M.M. [Mantel, on map numbered 140 (red) in Christchurch Land Office]. It is an instance of the confusion of spelling caused by the ‘r’ sound in Māori, which at times approached the sound of ‘l’”.

Duplication

There are no duplications of Putakoto or Poutokoro.

To date, no consultation has been undertaken Ngāi Tahu iwi, but this should be pursued.

Putakoto Head Place Name Proposal Report 20 April 2007

• Putakoto Head or Poutokoro Head or Putakoro Head
• coastal feature along Banks Peninsula
• spelling correction.

General Background

At the Board’s previous meeting of 8 November 2006, the minutes recorded the following:

“The Board noted that this place name was raised by Dr Wharehuia Milroy at the workshop on Generic Geographic Features held on 21 February 2006. It is currently ‘misspelt’ as Putakolo Head. The Board noted that where its members or the Secretary made a submission, then the relevant form may not necessarily need to be filled out. The Board noted that Putakolo was similar to Little Akaloa, i.e. Akaroa. The ‘l’ and the ‘r’ shift are accepted by linguists as transferable. Sir Tipene O’Regan’s understanding is that the early Mantell (1850s) recording of Poutokoro is correct – Mantell being scholarly and well-educated. Could be Putakoto. The Board noted the several variations of the spellings. Kolo and Koro are the same (meaning throat), but Koto has another meaning. Linguistically the ‘r’ is in preference to the ‘l’. The Board discussed whether Putakolo should remain as it is consistent with the 1844 chart. However, further support and evidence for changing this name, to Poutokoro or Putakoro, needs to be obtained. The Board agreed to defer for Ngāi Tahu to comment on and more research to occur through an Honours student from Canterbury University.

Action Required

Dr Sir Tipene O’Regan to refer to an Honours student (Geography Department) at Canterbury University for review and a short paper, and then ask Mr Takerei Norton to check what the feelings of the Rūnanga are in the area.”

Dr Sir Tipene O’Regan to report to the Board on progress with the actions raised by the Board.

Putakoto Head Place Name Proposal Report 9 November 2007

• Putakoto Head or Poutokoro Head or Putakoro Head
• coastal feature along Banks Peninsula
• spelling correction

General Background

Dr Sir Tipene O’Regan to advise of any progress with assigning a review and a short paper to a Geography Honours student, to establish linguistic correctness, historical assignment, and local/common usage of these spellings for this coastal feature on Banks Peninsula.

Putakoto Head Place Name Proposal Report 7 April 2008

• Putakoto Head or Poutokoro Head or Putakoro Head
• coastal feature along Banks Peninsula
• spelling correction.

General Background

At the previous meeting of 9 November 2007, the Board noted that Dr Garth Cant (Department of Geography, Canterbury University) had promised a post graduate research student this coming semester, to undertake the investigation into archival records. The Board noted that there could be some further delay because the student needed to complete her thesis last year. The Board noted that Dr Garth cant had used this work required by the Board to get a FoRST or MoRST grant into his department to fund the research, and he was very grateful to the Board to be able to do this.

In February 2008, Garth Cant advised that the thesis student he had in mind did complete her thesis and then went on an almost immediate OE. Garth advised that there was a ten per cent chance that she will be in NZ in time to be useful and was in the process of checking that out. He suggested that a plan B might be in order.

Dr Sir Tipene O’Regan may advise of any further progress at the April 2008 meeting. With respect to the local rūnanga views, the Board previously heard from Dr Sir Tipene O’Regan at the last meeting that no-one locally (of the Rūnanga) actually knows which is the correct spelling – only that the ‘l’ should become an ‘r’. But there is no knowledge of what of the vowels should be.

Putakoto Head Place Name Proposal Report 27 March 2009

• Putakoto Head or Poutokoro Head or Putakoro Head
• coastal feature along Banks Peninsula
• spelling correction

General Background

Extract from minutes of 7 April 2009:

“The Board noted the three variations of spelling for this prominent coastal geographic feature. The Board noted that the head was a significant coastal geographical feature at the eastern-most extremity of Banks Peninsula, making it a navigational point of some significance to maritime safety. The Board noted it is a linguistic matter and assimilated it to the varying opinions on the spelling of Akaroa/Akaloa.

The Board noted that further consultation and discussion with Rapaki Runaka (Ngāti Wheke) is scheduled to take place, but acknowledged that a resolution out of this meeting may be unlikely.

Resolution: To DEFER on the basis that more consultation is to take place.

Action Required

• Dr Sir Tipene O’Regan to consult with Ngāi Tahu on their knowledge of the name of the feature and seek Ngāi Tahu’s opinion on this linguistic issue.
• Canterbury University research paper to be considered.
• The issue to be discussed at the subsequent Board meeting.”

Immediately after the April 2008 meeting of the Board, correspondence occurred with Canterbury University on the research that was originally sought through Garth Cant, Geography Department. There was some initial confusion about funding for the research. The Secretariat offered assistance with searching historical records. No further word re the progress or completion of the research (being undertaken by Beth Watson) has been advised since July 2008. Any further information received in the meantime from Canterbury University, will be tabled at the meeting.

Dr Sir Tipene O’Regan to advise the Board at its upcoming meeting of the discussions with Ngāti Wheke and any recommendations.

Poutākoro Head Place Name Proposal Report 16 September 2009

• Poutākoro Head coastal feature along Banks Peninsula
• spelling correction

General Background

At the Board’s last meeting of 27 March 2009, the Board agreed to defer its decision on this proposal, so as to allow the relevant rūnanga to consider all of the research. Also, the Board wished to express its thanks to Beth Watson for her research paper, which was done in a letter of 16 April 2009.

A subsequent letter from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu dated 7 July 2009 advises that Te Rūnanga o Koukourārata and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu have reviewed the report and both support the recommendation in the research report, i.e. that Putakolo Head be changed to Poutakoro Head. Macron to be added as per advice from Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission).

Map

A printable version of this map is available in the Poutākoro Head Place Name Proposal Report (PDF 2.03MB).