Te Waikoropupū Springs Place Name Proposal Report
On this page:
- Pupu Springs Place Name Proposal Report 27 March 2009
- Te Waikoropupū Springs Place Name Proposal Report 16 September 2009
This report is also available in PDF Te Waikoropupū Springs Place Name Proposal Report (PDF 1.87MB).
Pupu Springs Place Name Proposal Report 27 March 2009
The largest spring system in New Zealand is located near Takaka in the Golden Bay region and has been named officially twice, once as Waikoropupu Springs and once as Pupu springs. Over the years the springs have been referred to by various names.
The name of the springs was first considered by the Board in 1939 when it was brought to their attention by Mr Walter Robinson in July of 1939. In Mr Robinson’s letter to the Board he attached an article from the Nelson Evening Mail dated July 17th 1939. This article discussed Mr H.P Washbourn’s (who was a respected miner in 1873 and later) research on the origin of the springs' name. The author of the article quotes the name for the springs to be Waikaremumu Springs which were used as a landmark for giving directions to early gold mines; “for short these were called the Mumu diggings”. He then claims that over a period of time these diggings became known as the Bu Bu and that a man from the region eventually substituted the B for a P ultimately altering Bu Bu to Pu Pu. The springs then became known as Pu Pu Springs.
Research undertaken by the Board at this time into the name uncovered four references including maps (the earliest dated 1858), which all referred to the river as Waikoromumu. One other map was found which called the river Waikorooupu but did not name the spring. Attached is the research undertaken in 1939, by Board member Johannes Anderson. The question concerning the correct name was put to Sir Apirana Ngata (a member of the Board at the time) who concluded that Waikoromumu and Waikaremumu had no meaning to Māori. He stated “the most natural descriptive affiliation circling around such a remarkable feature as the spring is Waikoropupu, meaning bubbling up water. The rest of the Board members agreed with this and the Board agreed on the correct name of the springs to be Waikoropupu springs gazetted in 1939 (HON) page 39.
The issue of the correct name for the springs was once again brought to the Board’s attention in March 1979 by the Nelson Chief Surveyor. This submission proposed the name Waingurupu Springs. This submission included reference to the book by W.A Taylor “Lore and History of South Island Māori”(1950) which called the springs Wai-nguru-pu, meaning place of the rumbling waters. The Board declined this submission on 21st of November 1979 and they recognised the correct name for the springs to be Pupu Springs. The Board decided to retain the name Pupu Springs as it was a well-known name and used globally. Pupu Springs was gazetted on the 6th of December 1980 page 1752. This gazette notice made no mention of replacing the 1939 gazette notice, which named the springs Waikoropupu Springs.
On the current 260 maps sheet N26 (2005) the springs are called Pupu Springs and the river is called Waikoropupu.
A.W Reed’s Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names (2002, pg 416) states the full name for the springs as Wai-ngaro-pupu; (meaning up-gushing hidden water), or Waikaremumu, or Waikoropupu. In Hugh Youngman’s “Ngā Ingoa o Aotearoa: An Oral Dictionary of Māori Place Names” (1985, pg 21) it names the springs Wai-koro-pupū.
DoC uses the name Te Waikoropupū Springs and Pupū Springs Scenic Reserve.
Te Waikoropupū Springs Place Name Proposal Report 16 September 2009
- Alteration
- Takaka.
General Background
Pupu Springs was gazetted on the 6th December 1980 page 1752 and made no mention of replacing the 1939 gazette notice when it was first bought to the Board's attention. The 1939 gazette notice assigned the name Waikoropupu Springs. The Board considered the name at its March 2009 meeting and decided to investigate the correct name and consult further with iwi. The Board noted that there was little traditional depth to iwi settlement in the area.
Consultation and investigation with the following iwi groups and organisations was undertaken.
| Views Sought | Response | Preference |
|---|---|---|
| Manawhenua ki Mohua | Advised they are the umbrella body for Ngati Rarua Iwi Trust, Te Atiawa Manawhenua ki te Tau Ihu Trust and Ngati Tama ki te Tau Ihu Trust. Have worked closely with DOC on Te Waikoropupū Springs Management Plan Project. | Te Waikoropupū |
| Ngati Tama Manawhenua ki te Tau Ihu Trust | No response | |
| Ngati Rarua Iwi Trust | No response | |
| Ngati Koata no Rangitoto ki te Tonga Trust | No response | |
| Onētahua Marae | No response | |
| Whakatū Marae | No response | |
| Tasman District Council Parks and Reserves | Neither support nor oppose the name Waikoropupū Springs, happy to be guided by the advice of the iwi. | None |
| DOC Nelson/Marlborough Conservancy | Has developed a management plan for Springs in close consultation with Manawhenua ki Mohua. The issue of naming was addressed in the management plan. Acknowledges that Waikoropupū is a tautology of Waikoropupū but the name Te Waikoropupū Springs is the commonly known name. | Te Waikoropupū |
The Department of Conservation’s Nelson/Marlborough Conservancy advised of their intention to change the current name Pupū Springs Scenic Reserve by gazettal to Te Waikoropupū Scenic Reserve.
The Tasman District Council Environment and Planning Manager advised that they neither oppose nor support the proposal to amend the name from Pupū Springs to Waikoropupū but prefer to be guided by the advice of iwi.
Manawhenua ki Mohua advise that their preference is for Waikoropupū without the generic term ‘Springs’.The views of Te Taurawhiri i te Reo Māori have not been sought.Manawhenua ki Mohua has been advised by letter that the use of generic terminology by the Board is a common practice and used mainly to avoid ambiguity or confusion as a location with emergency services.
Map
A printable version of this map is available in the Te Waikoropupū Springs Place Name Proposal Report (PDF 1.87MB).
