Restoring Māori Names in Auckland

Consultations are now underway on proposals to restore and correct Māori place names in Auckland and other parts of New Zealand. The proposals include changing the name of an Auckland waterfront area to its original Māori name, Te Tōangaroa, and correcting the spelling of the suburb Takanini to Takaanini, reflecting its historical roots and Māori language integrity.

Te Tōangaroa: This proposal aims to officially assign the traditional Māori name to a section of Auckland’s CBD waterfront. The name Te Tōangaroa, meaning the long drag of waka (canoes) to the shoreline, would apply to an area encompassing notable landmarks like Spark Arena and The Strand Railway Station. There are no plans to replace existing suburb names within this area, ensuring minimal disruption to residents.

Takaanini: Spelling corrections for the Takanini suburb and railway station have been proposed to Takaanini, better reflecting the name of rangatira (chief) Īhaka Wirihama Takaanini Te Tiki. The corrected spelling acknowledges the compound nature of the word, deriving from ‘taka’ and ‘ānini’ (meaning giddy or whirling). Auckland Transport has already adopted this spelling on local signs since 2018.

Additionally, proposals in the Rangitikei District and a Feilding suburb aim to correct historical spellings and extend locality names to new developments. These changes are part of ongoing efforts to respect and integrate Māori cultural heritage into New Zealand’s geographic nomenclature.

The public is invited to provide input on these proposals, ensuring that the community plays a role in these culturally significant decisions.