Whanganui Place Name Report - Board Policies and Relevant Legislation

Spelling standards

Item 16.5 of the Board’s Frameworks document refers:

Principle: Names should generally conform to the spelling of New Zealand English, although historical spelling and local usage may influence the final decision. Names in long term local usage normally take precedence, but, subject to safety concerns, may be subject to spelling corrections or alteration if the correct version is discovered. Transliterations and translocations, e.g. Whataitai to Hataitai can affect spelling.

Policy: The Board will seek to consult with iwi who are tangata whenua in the area and other appropriate authoritative persons or organisations when considering changes or corrections to the spelling of place names.

Guideline/Practice: In the examples below, the Board determined to retain the current spelling due to their wide local use and acceptance, while noting that the alternative spelling was correct.

Examples: Gowan features in the Nelson Lakes area are named after James Robert Gowen. The locality Wyndham in Southland is named after Charles Ash Windham.

Nomenclature

Item 16.8 of the Board’s Frameworks document refers:

Guideline/Practice:

• an original name where suitable should be given preference;
  • where the original name has been changed by publication or by local usage the original name should be restored in the correct form;
  • where, however, the incorrect name has become established by local usage over a long period the Board may in its discretion retain such incorrect form;
  • where the choice lies between two or more names all sanctioned by local usage, then that which is most appropriate and euphonious should be adopted.

Name changes

Item 16.13 of the Board’s Frameworks document refers:

Principle: Geographic names perform an important reference or label in language and for location. Consequently, changes to established names should not be made without good reason and should be considered carefully on a case by case basis.

Policy: Where a specific change is requested, the principle above will apply. (Note: The Board should not change, for example the spelling of a name, if the incorrect form is in general public use and where a change may affect a community.)

Guideline/Practice: Although name changes are not encouraged, changes may be approved in the following circumstances:

• For statutory compliance;
• To follow established local usage;
• Where there is an awareness that the current name is culturally inappropriate;
• Where the name is confusing to a local community;
• Where other issues e.g. safety, are a compelling reason to consider change.

Suburb and locality names [could be extended to apply to city names]

Item 16.27 of the Board’s Frameworks document refers:

Principle: Suburb and locality names come within the Board’s naming jurisdiction, pursuant to Section 9 of the Act, which states that the Board may assign or alter a name to any place in New Zealand. The term place means any town, village, village settlement, special settlement, goldfield or mining district, land area, or other district, place or locality whatsoever. The Board recognises the importance of suburb and locality names in providing a key component to unique location identification, which is critical to the responsiveness of emergency services in verifying and locating an incident. Suburbs and localities are also important for government administration, and provide an important identity/association for local communities.

Policy:

• Support of the territorial authority is generally sought before the Board accepts a suburb or locality name;
• Consideration is given to local community views;
• The views of tangata whenua Māori are taken into account;
• It is particularly important that suburb and locality names be assigned with emergency and utility services in mind. Emphasis on standardisation and non-ambiguity are the Board’s main concerns.

Guideline/Practice: The Board does not formally define bounded geographical areas of suburbs and localities (see Section 16.21). While it recognises that populated places may conform to or are limited by naturally defined geographic boundaries or infrastructures made by people, they can also be subject to growth and redefinition, so a fixed definition may not be desirable. however, despite not formally gazetting prescriptive boundaries, the Board recognises that new suburb and locality extents may need to be known, at the time of assigning, to satisfy enquiries by affected people. Boundary definitions, particularly for suburbs and localities, are generally determined by local authorities in the first instance. Through the public notification process, other agencies and/or individuals can influence final determinations, and any possible conflicts can also be identified.

Emergency response/Maritime safety/Disaster planning

The Board should consider implications for agencies dealing with emergencies or aid – the impacts, risks, and need for education, should Whanganui become official.

Statutory functions of the Board (2008 Act)

11 Other functions of Board

(1) In order to carry out its principal functions under section 10, the Board may—

1. adopt policies, rules, standards, protocols, guidelines, or similar instruments for carrying out its functions, including, but not limited to, rules, standards, protocols, or guidelines that it considers appropriate for the spelling and systematic designation of official geographic names:
2. examine cases of doubtful spelling of names and determine the spelling to be adopted on official charts or official maps:
3. collect original Māori names for recording on official charts and official maps:
4. encourage the use of original Māori names on official charts and official maps:
5. seek advice from Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission) on the correct orthography of any Māori name:
6. undertake other functions necessary to enable it to act effectively under this Act or any other enactment.

(2) Without limiting section 260 of the Local Government Act 2002, the Board may alter the name of a district or region if, by resolution, a meeting of the relevant local authority—

1. consents to the alteration; or
2. requests the alteration.

This sub-section does not apply to this proposal, which does not seek to change the name of the TA’s district name of Wanganui, but rather the city name, as a place.