Summer services update
Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) is New Zealand’s national place-naming authority. In 2023/24 it has continued its role as the principal adviser to the government on place names, carried out consultations on place names across New Zealand, and published numerous decisions.
NZGB is marking its centenary in 2024, with 100 years since its first meeting on 12 September 1924.
In 2023/24, NZGB publicly notified 16 place name proposals, and the Minister for Land Information made final decisions on 7 place names. Five proposals have been reported to the Minister for Land Information for final decisions.
NZGB updated 3 of its naming standards to include recognition of New Zealand’s diverse and inclusive society and culture, and gender balance in place naming.
Cover artwork by the late Cliff Whiting, New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa copyright. This artwork is of Tamatea Ure Haea: The greatest explorer by land and sea. He was also known as Tamatea Pōkai Whenua – Tamatea the explorer of land and Tamatea Pōkai Moana – Tamatea the explorer of oceans. A man of enormous curiosity and energy, Tamatea roamed through Aotearoa from Muriwhenua to Murihiku (the far north to the deep south). Names associated with Tamatea’s journeying are to be found down the full length of both islands of New Zealand.
This artwork depicts a karakia (incantation) in which Tamatea appealed to Ngātoro i Rangi, ariki of the northern volcanic mountains Tongariro and Ngāuruhoe, for help and the old ariki sent flames from his mountains. The flames came down the course of the Whanganui River and across to Nelson where they rose up into the air dropping a piece off at Hanmer, so giving rise to the hot springs there. From this incident, Hanmer Springs gained the name Te Whakatakao Te Ngārehu o Te Ahi a Tamatea, where the ashes of Tamatea’s fire lay. The flames finally reached Tamatea on the hills above Lyttelton Harbour/Whakaraupō, bringing the warmth which saved his life. The memory of that event is preserved in the official place name Te Ahi-a-Tamatea, which also refers to the ashes of Tamatea’s fire, known locally today as the Giants' Causeway, a prominent outcrop above Te Rāpaki-o-Te Rakiwhakaputa. Source: He Kōrero Pūrākau Mō Ngā Taunahatanga a Ngā Tūpuna – Place Names of the Ancestors – A Māori Oral History Atlas.
Ko te Toi uhi nā te ringatoi kua mate, nā Cliff Whiting, ko te manatārua nā te New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa. He mahi toi tēnei mō Tamatea Ure Haea: The greatest explorer by land and sea. I mōhiotia anō a ia ko Tamatea Pōkai Whenua – arā, ko Tamatea hōpara whenua me Tamatea Pōkai Moana – Tamatea hōpara moana.
He tangata nui te haere, nui te ngao, pōkaihia ana e Tamatea a Aotearoa mai i Muriwhenua ki Murihiku. Ko ngā ingoa i hua mai i ngā pōkaitanga a Tamatea ka kitea rere noa i ngā moutere e rua o Aotearoa. E whakaatu ana te mahi nei i tētahi karakia i inoihia ai e Tamatea he āwhina i a Ngātoro i Rangi, ariki o ngā maunga tipua o Tongariro me Ngāuruhoe, tukuna atu ana e te ariki koroheke rā he ahi i ana maunga. Rere iho ana te ahi rā ka whai i te Awa o Whanganui ahu atu ki Whakatū ka rere ki te rangi ka whakatakataka atu i tētahi ngārahu ki Hanmer, pupū ake ana ngā wai ariki o reira. Nō konei mai te ingoa o Hanmer Springs i taunahatia ko Te Whakataka o Te Ngārehu o Te Ahi a Tamatea, e takoto mai rā ngā pungarehu o te ahi a Tamatea. Ka tae te ahi ki a Tamatea i ngā hiwi o Whakaraupō, kawea mai ana i te mahana i oraiti ai ia. Ko te whakamaharatanga ki taua āhuatanga e tiakina ana i te ingoa mana o Te Ahi-a-Tamatea, e kōrero ana anō mō ngā pungarehu o te ahi a Tamatea, e mōhiotia ana e te hau kāinga ko te Giants’ Causeway, tētahi huinga toka kei runga ake i Te Rāpaki-o-Te Rakiwhakaputa. Puna: He Kōrero Pūrākau Mō Ngā Taunahatanga a Ngā Tūpuna – Place Names of the Ancestors – A Māori Oral History Atlas.