A proposal can be made online, or you can download and complete a hard copy form.
Propose a place name in Antarctica
Before you start filling in the proposal form, please read the Standard for Antarctic place names to make sure that your proposal meets good naming practice.
Standard for Antarctic place names
You can make a proposal to:
- Give a new name to a feature in Antarctica that is not currently named (see the New Zealand Gazetteer).
- Change or correct an existing Antarctic feature name. This could be a complete change or a correction to an existing name or its location. If a feature no longer exists, you can also propose that the name be removed.
Please note, if you are interested in naming a feature in the Australian Antarctic Territory, you must propose the name to the Australian Antarctic Division’s Place Names Committee.
Research
There are many sources to help with research. For example, historic books at Archive.org, and repositories of data and maps available from GeoDataHub and the Polar Geospatial Center. The Antarctic Heritage Trust can also provide valuable advice. See Researching place names for research sources.
About the proposal form
When you complete a proposal form, this is the information that we will need from you.
Your contact details
Please provide your name and how we can get in touch with you.
What do you want to propose?
Tick the appropriate box and add the Antarctic name you are proposing. If there is an existing name for the feature, please add it.
What type of Antarctic feature is it?
What type of feature is being named, for example, a bay, mountain, glacier, range. See New Zealand Geographic Features.
Who discovered, mapped or recorded the feature, and when?
Please provide the history of the feature’s discovery and identification if known.
Is this feature known by any other name?
There may be unofficial names in use, such as by scientists if the feature has been previously studied. The New Zealand Standard for Antarctic Place Names and the International Principles and Procedures for Antarctic Place Names give some consideration to unofficial names, so please provide any other known names for the feature.
- Standard for Antarctic place names
- International Principles and Procedures for Antarctic Place Names (PDF)
What are the feature’s co-ordinates (latitude and longitude)?
Please provide the coordinates of the feature, preferably in decimal degrees for a point, coordinates (to and from) for a line, and all necessary coordinates for an area.
What are the reasons for your proposal?
This should indicate the importance of naming the feature from the perspective of science, discovery, commemorating events, honouring people with a connection to the feature, emergency response, etc.
What are the associated features, if any?
Add information about other Antarctic features in the area that are connected physically or by naming theme, events, etc.
Supporting information
Please provide as much information as possible to explain and support your proposal. Please complete the checklist of supporting information to indicate what you have included with your proposal.