Mayor welcomes start of district name consultation

Published on 29 May 2015

29 May 2015

Mayor Annette Main today welcomed the start of the New Zealand Geographic Board Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa consultation on the request to change the name of the district from Wanganui to Whanganui.

“The Geographic Board has announced its three-month consultation period from 28 May 2015 to 28 August 2015 and it’s an opportunity for our community, as well as people from throughout New Zealand, to have their say,” Mayor Main said.

“The submissions made to the Council last year were provided to the Geographic Board as part of the Council’s request to change the name to Whanganui District. People who participated in the Council process can make submissions to the Geographic Board as well.

“We look forward to the outcome of the Geographic Board process which will provide certainty to the community and Whanganui Iwi.”

In December 2013 the Council received a request from the Tupoho Working Party to consider 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.

On 19 December 2014 the Council voted to ask the Geographic Board to change the name of the district from Wanganui to Whanganui.

Since December 2009 when 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, use of Whanganui has gradually increased by individuals, businesses and organisations.

“This is a clear indication that relationships and times have changed,” Mayor Main said.

“The Council has active and close relationships with Whanganui Iwi and these are continuing to develop for the benefit of the whole community. Our partner organisations, such as Safer Whanganui, Whanganui Digital Leaders Forum and Whanganui & Partners, are already using the ‘Whanganui’ spelling.”

The Geographic Board has said it is interested in reasons provided with submissions, not necessarily submission numbers; the process is not a ‘vote’. Following consultation, submissions will be analysed and considered when the Board meets on September 23.

Background information and details of how to make a submission to the Geographic Board are available on the Land Information New Zealand website.