A sign at an Esk Valley park will be changed after Hastings councillors held a passionate debate over whether the park's English or Māori name should take precedence.
By Linda Hall of Local Democracy Reporting
Eskdale Park closed after Cyclone Gabrielle caused extensive flooding in February 2023.
It reopened last year with a new entrance sign displaying its Māori name, Te Papa Rēhia o Herepoho, above Eskdale Park.
However, the sign was installed before public consultation on the council’s revised 2026 draft Reserve Management Plan began.
The council received 47 written submissions to the proposed plan and heard from nine submitters at Wednesday’s hearing, with much of the feedback focused on the park’s name.
Vote split by 11 to four
At a meeting on Wednesday, Hastings District councillors voted 11 to four to change the order of the two names, with the English version first.
Herepoho is the Māori name for the area, rather than a translation of Eskdale.
Councillors Kellie Jessup, Henare O’Keefe, Nick Ratcliffe and Heather Te Au-Skipworth preferred the existing signage and name remain, but all other councillors voted to change it.
Council staff said it would cost “well under $500 to reskin the sign”.
The original cost was $481.50.
O’Keefe said he supported the dual names side by side, with the Māori name first so the community was “moving forward together”.
Councillor Steve Gibson, who is currently running for election with NZ First in Rangitīkei, said while he would have liked to see the park name Eskdale Park on its own, without the Māori name, the compromise was “a win for common sense”.
The park was part of a large farming property called Hedgeley Station, owned by Thomas Clark.
In October 1915, Clark donated 10 acres (about 4 hectares) of his land to the public for a permanent recreation ground.
“We listened to submitters who spoke about Thomas Clark, who generously gifted the park to the community,” Gibson said.
“His generosity deserves respect. We should maintain our integrity rather than run roughshod over the history behind this wonderful park.”
Vision of Hastings as a Māori language-centred city by 2040
Gibson claimed the sign was a small example of a bigger issue in the district.
“The council’s 2020 Heretaunga Ararau policy sets a vision of making Hastings a Māori language-centred city by 2040.
“This includes promoting Māori language across Council, through signage, public spaces and place names. I question whether this ambitious vision is actually palatable to the majority of Hastings residents.”
A council spokesperson said the replacement sign was installed as part of the council’s asset renewals programme after the cyclone.
Fire and Emergency NZ said multiple people are trapped in flooded houses or cars on State Highway 5. (Source: Supplied)
It followed the bilingual and style guidance in place at the time.
The spokesperson said the council’s Heretaunga Ararau Te Reo Māori Policy, adopted in 2020, supports dual naming.
“Staff followed internal guidance consistent with that policy when arranging the replacement sign.”
The policy recognises te reo Māori as a taonga of whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori, and provides a framework for the council to support the revitalisation of the language through its activities and across Hastings city and the wider district.
The debate formed part of council’s consideration of the draft Herepoho Eskdale Park Reserve Management Plan, which was adopted at the meeting.
The park will now be known as Eskdale Park | Te Papa Rēhia o Herepoho.
The original draft Reserve Management Plan was developed following community consultation in 2021 and 2022, but was revised after the cyclone to reflect the extensive damage and the park’s recovery.
– Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
SHARE ME