More parks and public buildings in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland are set to be given dual Māori-English names, to better highlight the stories of tangata whenua.
It's happening as part of Te Kete Rukuruku, a joint programme between local iwi and Auckland Council, launched in 2017.
The project aims to restore Māori names and histories at parks, libraries, community centres and sports arenas across the region - and to ensure te reo Māori is seen, heard, read and spoken.
Of the 21 local boards, 15 support the kaupapa.
In February, the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board set aside about $13,000 for signage and dual names for 18 venues. Another three will get sole te reo Māori names.
It's the second tranche of name changes, after having already adopted 18 dual names in 2021.
Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board chair Apulu Reece Autagavaia told the NZ Herald feedback received so far about the project "has been positive".
The board again worked with mana whenua groups Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua, Te Ākitai Waiohua and Ngāti Tamaoho.
"Our communities are Māori and Pacific and Asian and the response has been encouraging," Autagavaia told the Herald.
He said one important aspect is that now young people can easily learn the rich stories of Tāmaki Makaurau.
"Local boards don’t have too much power but this is one of the ways where we do have power over public spaces."
As old monolingual English signage needs replacing, they will be upgraded to bilingual signage, Autangavaia told the Herald.
New bilingual signs can include:
- New dual names;
- Bilingual narratives or stories behind the names;
- Bilingual information about bylaws or liquor bans;
- Bilingual wayfinding (directional) information; and
- A QR code to scan and hear the correct pronunciation.
South Auckland venues
There will be 18 new dual names for venues in south Auckland, including:
- Te Pae o Manukau / Manukau Sports Bowl and Velodrome
- Te Ara Kuaka / Manukau Square
- Te Paataka Koorero o Papatoetoe / Papatoetoe War Memorial Library
- Te Wharau o Kohuora / Papatoetoe Town Hall
- Papa-kohu / Caringbah Park
- Paa-maioro / Derrimore Park
- Taupae / Dissmeyer Park
- Waikohu / Ferndown Park
- Kohuora / Glenmary Place Reserve
- Manu-kau Noa Iho / Hayman Park
- Mauku-rahi / Kennel Hill Reserve
- Whenua Makuru / Maxwell Park
- Karanga-manu / Sikkim Park
- Papatairite / Sunnyside Domain Park
- Tooia mai / Swaffield Park
- One-whakaawa / Williams Creek Esplanade Reserve
- Kohi-toetoe / Wintere Park
- Papatoetoe / Papatoetoe Recreation Ground
And three parks will receive te reo Māori names only:
- Puhinui (formerly Colin Dale Park)
- Poro-toetoe (formerly Motatau Park)
- Puhinui (formerly Puhinui Reserve)
A total of 55 community places in the Ōtara and Papatoetoe local areas have been earmarked for eventual renaming, including the Ōtara Library.
Manu-kau Noa Iho/Hayman Park will get the full suite of bilingual signage.
Other parks around the supercity
It comes after the Kaipātiki Local Board adopted 10 new names for parks and reserves in Northcote in August.
Many of the newly named parks were built or redeveloped during construction of the Northcote Development.
And last June, the Waitākere Ranges Local Board adopted 10 sole te reo Māori names for parks in the area, plus dual names for nine parks and two libraries.
