Help Finding Names

Use the lists and databases below to find information about names, including those assigned, altered, discontinued or approved by the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (NZGB). The NZGB also holds paper records and archives.

Official names

Official names are assigned, altered, discontinued or approved by the NZGB or other legislation (such as Treaty of Waitangi settlements) and appear in the New Zealand Gazetteer of Official Geographic Names (the Gazetteer). You can also check for recently proposed and decided official names.

Recorded names

Recorded names are names that have appeared in at least two publicly available authoritative publications or databases. They are unofficial because they were not assigned, altered, discontinued or approved by the NZGB. Many of the place names recorded on official maps are outside the NZGB's functions and jurisdiction, such as homesteads, light houses or tracks. Other recorded names, like Wellington, were commonly in use before the creation of the NZGB, and consequently have not yet been processed by the NZGB to become official.  You can search the New Zealand Place Names Database (archived) for recorded names.

International names

For regions outside the NZGB's exclusive jurisdiction, such as the continental shelf beyond New Zealand's territorial boundaries (12 nautical miles off the coast) or beyond the Ross Dependency of Antarctica, lists and data are agreed and maintained by various international organisations. Find out more about undersea feature names or Antarctic names. You can also find out about NZGB's international cooperation.

Māori names

For official Māori names and dual names, see the Gazetteer. The NZGB has also compiled a list of official names with macrons to assist in mapping, charting, signage, reporting, legislation, or other official documents. Otherwise, see Māori names for more resources.

Electoral names

You can also search street and place names by using LINZ's electoral streets & places data.

Street names & other names

The NZGB is not responsible for naming all geographic features and places, including streets. Read about the NZGB's functions and jurisdiction for more information about other naming authorities.

Paper records & archives

The NZGB holds archives of information on place names, including proposals, submissions and historical gazetted names. Public access is by arrangement with the Secretary. Please contact the NZGB.

Records include:

• correspondence volumes 1-72, 1915 -1994
• board minutes volumes 1-9, 1927-1986
• file 22/2605/3 volumes 1-19, 1945-1993
• Antarctic names volumes 1-8, 1952-1994
• manual card indexes.