Call for submissions on Maxwell name change to Pākaraka

Call for submissions on Maxwell name change to Pākaraka

The New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa is inviting public submissions to alter an official locality name from Maxwell to Pākaraka, which is 19km west-northwest of Whanganui.

The Board will accept submissions for or against from 27 May 2021 to 30 August 2021.

“The Board welcomes submissions from all who want to have a say about this name proposal – particularly within the locality,” says Wendy Shaw, Board Secretary.

Ngāti Maika submitted the proposal, advising that the name commemorating Sergeant George Maxwell is offensive, based on his military role in the ‘Handley Woolshed Affair’ in 1868 during Tītokowaru’s War. This history was acknowledged in the Treaty settlement, which supported a name change.

Key reasons for agreeing with the proposal include the Board’s function to encourage the use of original Māori names. The Board noted its depiction on early documents, a contemporary translocation, the significance of Pākaraka to Ngāti Maika, its modern day use in the area, and Whanganui District Council’s support for the proposed name change.

The Board was also mindful of its naming guideline to consider names that are offensive

The Board’s standard for New Zealand place names.

Further information and find out how to make a submission

Background and additional information

The New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa is an independent statutory body that works closely with Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand.

Place names tell us where we are. They are important signposts of modern, historical and cultural influences and values of the people that gave them. Knowing the correct names for places and their locations is important for everyday communications and activities, such as when emergency services need to identify ’where’ quickly, clearly and accurately.

Official New Zealand place names can be found in the New Zealand Gazetteer.

Kua karangahia he tāpaenga whakaaro mō te huri i te ingoa o Maxwell ki te Pākaraka

Kua karangahia he tāpaenga whakaaro mō te huri i te ingoa o Maxwell ki te Pākaraka

E tono ana te New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa kia tāpaea mai he whakaaro e te iwi tūmatanui mō te huri i te ingoa mana o te takiwā o Maxwell ki te Pākaraka, he wāhi kei tōna 19km ki te taha pārera kotipū o Whanganui.

Hei tā Wendy Shaw, Hēkeretari o te Poari, “E ngākau tuwhera ana te Poari ki ngā tāpaenga whakaaro a te katoa e hiahia whakaputa whakaaro ana mō te tono nei  – ina koa te hunga o te takiwā tonu.”  

I tāpaea mai te tono e Ngāti Maika me te kī ake e mōrihariha ana te ingoa whakamahara ki a Haihana George Maxwell, nā runga i āna mahi hōia i te ‘Handley Woolshed Affair’ i te tau 1868 i te pakanga ki a Tītokowaru. I whakamanahia ēnei kōrero tuku iho i tā rātou whakataunga Tiriti i tautoko nei i te panonihia o te ingoa.

Ko ētahi take matua mō te whakaae ki te tono ko te kawenga tonu a te Poari ki te whakahau kia whakamahia te ingoa Māori taketake ake.  E mōhio ana te Poari mō te takoto mai o te ingoa nei ki ētahi puka o mua, mō te nukuhia o tōna wāhi ake i muri iho, mō te hiranga o Pākaraka ki a Ngāti Maika, te whakamahinga o te ingoa ki te takiwā i ēnei rā nei, me te tautokohia o te tono kia panonitia te ingoa e te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Whanganui. 

Kei te mārama hoki te Poari ki tāna aratohu taunaha kia āta whakaarotia te ingoa mōrihariha.

Te paerewa a te Poari mō ngā ingoa wāhi o Aotearoa.

Kōrero tuaroa me ētahi atu kōrero

He rōpū motuhake ā-ture te New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa ka mahi ngātahi ki a Toitū te Whenua Aotearoa.  

Ko tā te ingoa wāhi he tohu kei hea ake tātou. He tohu hiranga hoki mō ngā kawenga taha ahurea at e hunga o ēnei rā, o mua, nā rātou i taunaha, me tā rātou i uara ai.  He nui whakaharahara te mōhio ki te ingoa tika o tētahi wāhi me tōna wāhi tūturu ki ngā kōrero me ngā mahi o ia rā, pērā i te āta tautuhi a ngā ratonga whawhati tata ‘kei hea ake’ tētahi wāhi i runga i te whāwhai, te mārama me te tika tūturu.

Ka kitea ngā ingoa wāhi mana o Aotearoa i te New Zealand Gazetteer.

Pātai pāpāho

Īmēra: media@linz.govt.nz me waea mai rānei ki 027 566 5251.