"I struggle to understand why the name fell off.
"As a child I remember going to the Tomoana Showgrounds, but for the last 20 years it hasn't been called that."
There was talk that maybe it was when the Tomoana Freezing works closed down that the name slid out of common usage but, whatever the case, a decision has been made to bring the name back and reconnect the community with an important part of the region's heritage.
In this case that heritage extends back to the late 1800s and the relationship between Ngati Kahungunu/Ngati Te Whatu-i-apiti leader, politician and newspaper publisher Henare Tomoana and farmer and industrialist William Nelson, who built the Tomoana Freezing Works among other notable pursuits.
As noted by Henare Tomoana's descendant Ngahiwi Tomoana on these pages, the two men had like minds and a vision for education, employment and entrepreneurship, which resulted in a fruitful relationship that benefited the whanau of Heretaunga Marae and the wider community.
Mr Chambers said the impetus to reclaim the name arose from the Hawke's Bay A&P board's ongoing desire to connect the rural and urban communities, including the neighbouring Waipatu Marae, of which the Tomoana family was a big part.
"This was well overdue to be revisited and is fantastic for those two families to reconnect and also for the A&P community as well as the wider community to know more about this history's significance to Hastings and Hawke's Bay - it's exciting."
Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman and lifelong Hawke's Bay resident Rex Graham was involved in initial discussions over restoring the name for the venue, which he also remembers from when he was a child.
"I think this is a tremendous idea because it's an interesting story of the relationship between two Hawke's Bay families, and also a piece of local history that our community can embrace and get really enthusiastic about."
Mr Chambers added that re-igniting this history would set a clear pathway for Hawke's Bay.
"To move forward we need to revisit history so we can learn from it.
"Both our communities are facing challenges and this will bring huge opportunities for the wider region."
A powhiri at Waipatu Marae to formally acknowledge the reclaimed name is due to be held next Friday.