Toitū Te Whenua LINZ media release - Maxwell name change

Published on 16 February 2022

A long-standing Treaty grievance for mana whenua will be addressed when the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa formally changes Maxwell to Pākaraka today.

Board Chairperson, Anselm Haanen, said that the Minister for Land Information Hon Damien O’Connor has confirmed the Board’s recommendation to change the small rural locality’s name following a request from Ngāti Maika, and subsequent consultation carried out last year.

“Over 500 submissions were received for this change,” Mr Haanen says.   

“In 1868, a government militia led by George Maxwell fired on a group of unarmed Māori children, attacked them with sabres and killed two boys. It was an unprovoked attack. The area was named ‘Maxwelltown’ shortly after his death in 1870 and officially changed to Maxwell in 1927.” 

Minister O’Connor said the change addresses a long-standing Treaty grievance for mana whenua and that Ngāti Maika had sought an outright change of name rather than dual or alternative names.

“None of the reasons given against changing outweighed the case to right this wrong. I am pleased we can restore the original Māori name, Pākaraka, meaning a settlement surrounded by an abundance of karaka trees”.

The Board also announced the Minister’s decisions to make Pikipari Pass, Onetāhua Rise, Rangitoto-ki-te-Tonga / d’Urville Valley and Taumoana Canyon official.