Council to consider request to change name
Published on 01 December 2014
1 December 2014
Mayor Annette Main says the Wanganui District Council will this week discuss a request to change its name to Whanganui District Council.
“We received the request to change the Council’s name some time ago but a decision has been delayed as information needed to be prepared and specialist advice sought, complicated by the fact that we had differing legal opinions on how to proceed,” Mayor Main said.
“The options for altering the name of the Council have now been confirmed by the New Zealand Geographic Board so it is time for the Council to make a firm decision which will provide certainty to the community and iwi.”
The request to change the name was made in December 2013 by the Tupoho Working Party which includes representatives from Tupoho and the Council. It has also been endorsed by Tamaupoko Link, a working party of Tamaupoko and Council representatives.
The Tupoho Working Party resolved that it be recommended that the Council considers changing the spelling of Wanganui District Council to Whanganui District Council and to change the spelling of all other entities under its control, i.e. Council-controlled organisations, from Wanganui to Whanganui.
The options for changing the name of the Council are via an Act of Parliament (a Member’s bill or a local bill); or through the process set out in the New Zealand Geographic Board (Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa) Act 2008.
The process under the Act would require a request to the New Zealand Geographic Board to alter the spelling of the district from Wanganui to Whanganui.
“In December 2009 the then Minister of Land Information, the Hon Maurice Williamson, announced that both spellings for the name of the city would be gazetted as official alternative spellings,” Mayor Main said.
“Since that time the use of Whanganui has gradually increased by individuals, businesses and organisations and is now commonplace. This is a clear indication that relationships and times have changed.
“The Council itself has seen increased use of Whanganui by our partner organisations, such as Safer Whanganui, Whanganui Digital Leaders Forum and Whanganui & Partners. We have active and close relationships with Whanganui Iwi and these are continuing to develop for the benefit of the whole community.
“If the Council decides to proceed with an application to the Geographic Board to alter the name, the Board will hold a public consultation process about the proposal, as happened with the earlier proposal by Tupoho to alter the name of the city.
“If it is decided to change the Council’s name there would be some costs but this could be implemented over time as existing stationery and signage would be replaced as necessary.”
The Council will consider the name change request at its meeting on Tuesday, December 2.