Propose a place name

Find out how to name a place or geographic feature in New Zealand, its offshore islands and continental shelf, and the Ross Dependency of Antarctica.

Anyone can make a place name proposal. The requirements for a name proposal differ depending on the feature or place you want to name. The New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (NZGB) considers proposals and submissions against its naming rules, criteria, standards, guidelines and policies.

Name proposal deadlines

Board hui dates and name proposal deadlines in 2021 are:

• 20 April 2021, deadline 9 March 2021
• 22 July 2021, deadline 10 June 2021
• 20 October 2021, deadline 25 August 2021

Proposals received after the deadline that meet minimum requirements will be processed at the next Board hui.

Committee hui dates in 2021 are:

• Undersea Feature Names Committee, 4 February 2021
• Antarctic Names Committee, TBD in the first half of March 2021
• Māori Names Committee, to be held around the day of each Board hui, ie 19 April 2021, 22 July 2021 and 19 October 2021