Proposing District & Region Names

In rare circumstances the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (NZGB) can alter the local authority names for a district or region over which a territorial authority or regional council has jurisdiction.

Note that the names of places within a local authority's jurisdiction (such as cities, towns, villages, localities and suburbs) can be altered by proposing geographic features and places in New Zealand and offshore islands. Only local authorities can propose alterations to their district and region names, however proposed names need to meet the NZGB’s Interim Standard for District and Region Names.

What district & region names can the NZGB alter?

The NZGB can alter the names of any district or region. Find a list on the Local Government New Zealand website. Existing names are defined in Schedule 2 of the Local Government Act 2002. There are currently:

• 12 regional councils
• 16 city councils
• 57 district councils (including the Chatham Islands and four unitary councils which have regional functions).

The NZGB cannot alter the names of the following administrative areas:

• electorates (these are assigned by the Representation Commission)
• wards (these are assigned by the relevant territorial authority).

How the NZGB considers proposals

Proposals are considered following a defined process. The general process of a successful district and region alteration proposal is:

1. local authority resolves to alter a district or region name
2. proposal received by NZGB secretariat
3. research, investigation and validation by the secretariat, plus consultation - if required
4. the NZGB considers the proposal and weighs it against the naming rules
5. the NZGB publicly notifies the proposed name alteration and calls for submissions
6. submissions are collated
7. the NZGB makes a decision to uphold or reject any objections
8. if the objections are not upheld, then the Minister for Land Information makes a final determination
9. if objections are upheld, or if there are no objections, the NZGB makes the final determination
10. Minister to request the Governor-General to make an Order-in-Council to amend name
11. the official district or region name is published in the NZ Gazette, is publicly notified, and is entered into the New Zealand Gazetteer of Official Geographic Names

Download a detailed flow-chart of the process for naming districts and regions (pdf 143KB).

How to make a proposal

Only local authorities can propose alterations to their district and region names. Local authorities are to use the following steps to help prepare an alteration proposal to a district or region name.

1. Determine existing name and check recent decisions

The existing names for districts and regions are defined in Schedule 2 of the Local Government Act 2002. Local Authorities need to determine the current name. Note that the official name of the district or region may differ from its trading name that is proposed to be altered.

Check the details of proposals that are currently and have recently been considered by the NZGB in consultation and decisions.

2. Obtain support of the authority to be altered

Before the NZGB can consider a proposal to alter the name of a district or region, the affected council must pass a resolution to either:

• consent to the alteration, or
• request the alteration.

This resolution must accompany the proposal.

2. Fill in the proposal form

All proposals must be made on the official proposal form. Use the RTF version if you would like to open in a word processor first. Use the PDF version if you would like to print the form first.

• Districts and regions proposal form (rtf 185KB) and (pdf 192KB)
• Notes for completing the districts and regions proposal form (rtf 205KB) and (pdf 125KB)

The Te Reo Māori versions of the above forms, online proposals and submissions are not available at this stage.

3. Provide supporting documentation

Provide as much information as possible to explain and support the proposed altered name.

Local authorities need to explain why the proposal should be adopted as the altered name for the district or region. Useful information to provide could include documentary evidence of the history, origin, meaning and significance of the name. Note that the NZGB has certain rules around how names need to be structured - find out more about the NZGB's naming rules, criteria, standards, guidelines and policies . Other information such as research material, photographs and references can also be useful to the NZGB.

4. Consultation

Consultation is not mandatory prior to proposing an altered district or region name, but it is encouraged by the NZGB. If local authorities consult other people or groups or neighbouring local authorities about the proposal, they need to be sure to include any documentary evidence of any support or views. Oral evidence or histories may also be important, particularly for Māori names.

5. Send proposal to the NZGB

Post or email proposals to the address in contact the NZGB. Note that proposals and supporting material provided to the NZGB will not be returned.

Privacy

Once the NZGB has received a proposal it becomes a public record. If the NZGB publishes information about the proposal, it will generally omit names of private individuals to protect their privacy. However, the NZGB may be required to release all information including all correspondence under the Official Information Act 1982 or other legislation.