Decisions On Central Otago Place Names

The New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa has agreed to defer its decision on the place name ‘Te Karearea Peak’ to allow it to be reported to Land information Minister Maurice Williamson as one of an agreed set of four place names for features in an alpine area of Central Otago.

In 2011, the Minister rejected the place name proposal ‘Te Kōhua Peak’ and invited the NZGB to work with Ngāi Tahu and the Central Otago District Council toward an agreed set of names for geographic features in the area.

“This resulted in four naming proposals: ‘Te Karearea Peak’ and ‘Lake Te Kōhua’ proposed by the Council and Mayor respectively, and ‘Mount Tūwhakaroria’ and ‘Tāpuae o Uenuku / Hector Mountains’ proposed by Ngāi Tahu,” says NZGB Chair Dr Don Grant.

“Public consultation was held for these proposals this year – from April 26 to July 26 – during which the names ‘Lake Te Kōhua’, ‘Mount Tūwhakaroria’ and ‘Tāpuae o Uenuku / Hector Mountains’ received both supporting and objecting submissions. As the NZGB did not uphold any of the objections, the Minister will make the final decisions on these names.”

The fourth name – ‘Te Karearea Peak’ – received only supporting submissions and no objections. This means that the NZGB will ultimately make the final decision on this name.

“Given that the invitation from the Minister was to come up with naming proposals as an agreed set, the NZGB decided to defer its decision on ‘Te Karearea Peak’ at this stage.

“This will allow us to report the four names back to the Minister and enable us to seek his views on that agreed set before finalising our decision on ‘Te Karearea Peak’.”

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