New names proposed for Auckland suburbs, other parts of the country

Consultations are open today on proposals to correct and restore two Māori place names in Auckland City.

The proposal from Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board would restore the original Māori name, Te Tōangaroa to an area on the waterfront of Auckland's CBD, and correct the spelling of Takanini to Takaanini.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei made the proposal to restore the traditional Māori name Te Tōangaroa and assign it as an official place name for an area along part of the waterfront of Auckland’s CBD.

The name would apply to the area bordered by Britomart Place, Beach Road, Quay Street and State Highway 16, which contained Spark Arena, The Strand Railway Station, Te Taou Reserve, Mahuhu ki te Rangi Park and several apartment buildings.

Board secretary Wendy Shaw said the kōrero from the proposer noted the name referred to the dragging of waka a long way to the shoreline.

Existing suburb names within the proposed Te Tōangaroa area were not being changed or replaced and there would be no changes to addresses or any need to update signage.

Proposals have been made to correct the spelling of Takanini to Takaanini for the suburb and the railway station.

The proposals were endorsed by mana whenua, Te Ākitai Waiohua.

The suburb and railway station were named after rangatira (chief) Īhaka Wirihama Takaanini Te Tiki who lived from 1800-1864.

The spelling with the double aa correctly reflects that Takaanini was a compound word made up of taka and ānini, together meaning giddy or whirling.

Auckland Transport installed signs at the railway station with the ‘aa’ spelling in 2018.

If successful, maps and signs could be updated over time as they age and needed replacing.

Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board was also opening consultations on place name proposals for the Rangitikei District and Maewa, a suburb of Feilding.

Rangitikei District Council made the proposal to correct the spelling of its district name by adding the macron.

Board secretary Wendy Shaw said the Rangitikei District was named after the Rangitīkei River.

“The kōrero being that an ancestor, Haunui-a-Nanaia, in pursuit of his wife, crossed and named several rivers landmarks.

“It is at this river that his day (rangi) of striding (tīkei) came to an end. The river’s official name includes the macron.”

If successful, the macron would be officially added to the second “i” in the district’s name to make it Rangitīkei District.

It was expected that signs and printed materials would be updated here too as they aged and needed replacing. Digital changes could happen more quickly without significant costs.

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 was an original Māori place name which Ngāti Kauwhata gifted to the council for the suburb name. It meant “to meander” and describesd the waterway that began as a puna (spring) at the currently locality and flowed east into Makino Stream.

The board would like to hear from the wider community in these areas before final decisions were made.

Submissions on the proposals can be made by visiting the Land Information New Zealand website.