Apartment complex claims right to 'wharenui'

An upmarket Wellington apartment complex is threatening to hold up a $7 million waterfront development, claiming it owns the legal rights to the Maori word "wharenui".

The claim, made by Wharenui Apartments Ltd director Oliver Nees, has been dismissed as "nuts" by Wellington Waterfront chairwoman Fran Wilde.

"It's a Maori word that means large meeting house, and that's what this is."

Wharenui Apartments owns a 41-apartment block, called Wharenui, at 274 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay, a few blocks from Taranaki St Wharf where the Wellington Tenths Trust plans to build a $7.7 million "wharenui".

The apartment company does not want the name "wharenui" used for the new building because it says it has "established legal rights" to use it and the right to object to any other prominent building "in the same general area" as the apartment block using it.

In a submission received by Wellington City Council, Mr Nees said any resource consent granted should be conditional on "wharenui" being excluded from the building's name or title. Mr Nees hinted at possible legal action.

Mark Te One of the Tenths Trust said wharenui was used by Maori to describe a type of building and there had been no decision made on the name of the new building, which will incorporate a gallery, cafe and restaurant.

- NZPA