Place name decisions announced

The Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board today announces decisions on 12 place name proposals. 

Auckland 

Proposals to alter Takanini (suburb) and Takanini Railway Station to Takaanini and Takaanini Railway Station: 

These proposals have been declined. 

Proposal to make Te Tōangaroa the official name for an unnamed area in Auckland’s CBD: 

This proposal has been approved. 

The name refers to the dragging of waka a long way to the shoreline. The name will now be official for the area bordered by Britomart Place, Beach Road, Quay Street and State Highway 16, which contains Spark Arena, The Strand Railway Station, Te Taou Reserve, Māhuhu-ki-te-Rangi Park and several apartment buildings.

Waikato Region

Proposal to alter The Cone to Pūāwhē for a peak on Pirongia Mountain: 

This proposal has been approved. 

Pūāwhē is a traditional name on Pirongia Mountain and historically it referred to the mountain as a whole. The story of the name says the patupaiarehe (supernatural being or fairy-like creature) who bewitched Tāwhaitu had used a bundle “pū” of “ā” tree fern called a “whē” or caterpillars “whē”. 

Manawatū-Whanganui Region

Proposal to rename National Park (village) to Waimarino: 

This proposal has been approved. 

The name Waimarino is the original Māori name for the area and refers to calm waters pooling on the plains as they come down from the mountain. 

Proposal to rename National Park Station to Waimarino Railway Station:

This proposal has been declined.

Proposal to alter Manawatu District to Manawatū District:

This proposal has been declined. 

Proposal to alter Rangitikei District to Rangitīkei District:

This proposal has been declined. 

Proposal to make Maewa the official name of a new suburb in Feilding: 

This proposal has been approved. 

Manawatu District Council made the proposal to extend the existing locality of Maewa to include a future housing development currently referred to as Precinct 4, and to formalise it as an official suburb of Feilding. Maewa is an original Māori place name which Ngāti Kauwhata gifted to the council for the suburb name. It means “to meander” and describes the waterway that begins as a puna (spring) at the currently locality and flows east into Makino Stream.

Wellington Region

Proposal to alter Petone to Pito One:

This proposal has been declined. 

Proposal to alter Abbots Creek to Abbotts Creek:

This proposal has been declined. 

Tasman Region

Proposal to alter 5 Mile Creek to Herwin Creek:

This proposal has been declined.

Upcoming decisions

A decision on the proposal to rename Russell to Kororāreka is expected to be announced in 2025. 

More information

The Minister for Land Information Hon Chris Penk made the determinations on these proposals in his statutory role as final decision maker.