Judea's Churchill Park could be renamed to acknowledge its rich history and how it became a place of prayer for members of Tauranga's Ngai Tamarawaho hapu.
The park above Churchill Rd is proposed to be named after Matiu Kauri, a Mormon preacher who held prayer meetings in the park from the 1920s.
A presentation was due to be made to today's meeting of the Tangata Whenua/City Council committee. The committee set up to forge a meaningful partnership between Maori and the council does not have the power to make binding decisions.
Kaumatua Des Tata told the Bay of Plenty Times that the prayer meetings were in a grove that later became known as Churchill Park. He explained that the Battle of Gate Pa saw the hapu leave the Anglican Church and its people seek religion with many other churches. It was one of the few marae that had multiple denominations in the one hapu.
Mr Tata said Matiu Kauri brought the Mormon Church and he went outside the square by using the park for prayer. "That is why it is so significant."