Status
Opened
Closes
Closed
Topic
Place naming
Last updated

These proposals were to alter five undersea feature names and assign existing names as official

Four of the six undersea feature name proposals were to alter:

  • Motuhora Scarp to Moutohorā Escarpment
  • Otago Basin to Kōura Basin
  • Motiti Spit to Mōtītī Shoal
  • Whakaari High to Whakaari Shelf.

The other two undersea feature name proposals were to assign existing names in scientific publications as official:

  • Lloyd Dome
  • Pāhaoa Bank.

Outcomes so far

Now official: Lloyd Dome, Mōtītī Shoal, Moutohorā Escarpment, Pāhaoa Bank, Whakaari Shelf

Lloyd Dome, Mōtītī Shoal, Moutohorā Escarpment, Pāhaoa Bank and Whakaari Shelf received no objecting submissions and have been made official.

Published in the New Zealand Gazette on 6 August 2026

However, Kōura Basin received an objecting submission.

What happens next?

The Board will consider the submission received for Kōura Basin at its next hui on 13 October 2026. The outcome will be that either the Board itself or the Minister for Land Information will make the final decision. This page will be updated when the final decision is made.

Report

At its hui on 30 April 2026 the Board considered this updated report on the proposals. The proposals were notified for one month so that the public could make submissions supporting or objecting to the proposed names.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Make a submission

This proposals are open for public submissions until 15 July 2026.

Alternatively you can submit by:

  • write directly to the email address, or
  • post a letter to the Secretary of the New Zealand Geographic Board, c/o Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145.