Background
Kawerau District Council wants a more consistent way to name new roads, open spaces, and community facilities so that names better reflect our district. The policy will formally embed the guidance and input of Tangata Whenua Iwi Ngāti Tῡwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) as a partner in the naming process as they hold the mana and traditional associations with local places, and are the most appropriate authority, to seek options for Te Reo Māori names.
The naming policy has been formally adopted by the Kawerau District Council.
Please use this link to view the draft Naming Policy
Thank you for your submissions - your views do matter!
Names are a significant way of telling and maintaining our local stories into the future. This policy has been drafted in a way to reflect this, and we thank the community for your feedback and support of the naming policy.
Purpose of the Policy
As set out in the policy, the main purposes for Council’s Naming Policy are to:
- ensure the names of roads, open spaces, features, and community facilities tell the story of Kawerau and reflect Kawerau’s natural, cultural and historic heritage;
- encourage locally significant Te Reo Māori names for roads, open spaces, features, and community facilities to enable greater visibility of Tangata Whenua Iwi Ngāti Tῡwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) Settlement Trust connections to Kawerau;
- provide clarity and consistency in the naming of roads, open spaces, features, and community facilities;
- ensure names are appropriate and do not duplicate or cause confusion with existing or approved names;
- ensure a safer community by facilitating accurate property identification for emergency services;
- ensure Council meets its obligations under the Local Government Act 1974 when naming roads and numbering properties.
Reasons for the proposal
The Local Government Act 1974 grants Council the power to name roads, however the method for selecting suitable names is left to Council discretion.
Although Council used to have an informal process, this is largely unknown to the community. This naming policy now provides a framework to guide the process and provide some certainty for developers, the community and Council alike.
