Suburb and locality names

Officially naming suburbs and localities is important for having one agreed and correct name. This is especially important for identifying where you are in an emergency, property addressing, and acknowledging community identity. One of our goals is for every suburb and locality in New Zealand to have an official name and boundary.

Urban development can result in new subdivisions. These are often named for marketing purposes, and their names may then come into everyday use. However, they are not official and may not reflect good naming practice. For example, if another place already has that name or a similar name, this can cause confusion and ambiguity. Therefore, we encourage councils, developers and communities to make proposals to officially name your suburbs and localities.

We recognise that populated places can increase in size so their boundaries may need to change. We welcome councils’ advice on the boundaries of their suburbs and localities, and we also ask for their views on proposed names. We also consult with affected communities and mana whenua. The final decision on an official suburb or locality name and its boundary is either ours or the Minister for Land Information’s.