Lake Ferry up for official status

HISTORICAL OVERSIGHT: The Lake Ferry Hotel and Lake Ferry settlement on the shore of Lake Onoke. PHOTO/GRANT MORRELL

The township of Lake Ferry - one of the oldest settlements in Wairarapa - is one step closer to becoming officially named.

Featherston resident and Lake Ferry landowner Perry Cameron called for the settlement to be officially named after discovering the coastal town's name had never been formalised.

Mr Cameron found that neither Lake Onoke nor Lake Ferry were recognised places on the Gazetteer, which holds all official names for features within the New Zealand Geographic Board's (NZGB) coverage.

He submitted an application to the NZGB that took into account the history of the place and the views of the affected people and groups.

A proposal will be put out for public consultation by the NZGB next week.

Members of the public have one month to tell the NZGB whether they think the recorded and unofficial name 'Lake Ferry' should be made official.

The name would apply to the village on the shores where Lake Onoke empties into Palliser Bay.

About 50 residences, as well as an additional 5ha of land zoned for urban use, would make up the locality to which the name would apply, according to a South Wairarapa District Council report.

"My reaction to this whole process is just real satisfaction of the new awareness amongst the community," said Mr Cameron. "And that they and the Government acknowledge that there needs to be proper consultation about so many of our historic places and townships that aren't named."

Mr Cameron's application to the NZGB included evidence of support from the Lake Ferry Ratepayers & Residents Association, of which he is the former president and a member since 1990. He said support for the submission by Lake Ferry ratepayers had been unanimous.

His application also showed support from the Department of Conservation and the South Wairarapa District Council.

Mr Cameron said an official name would make the town more accessible for tourism and online real estate searches.

"When the decision comes out about the application I'm sure it will encourage other communities, local government and iwi to seek official name recognition for their townships and historical places."

Consultation will run from October 29 to December 4. Anyone can make a submission during the consultation period either in support of or objecting to the proposal.

Details of the proposal will be available on the Land Information New Zealand website - www.linz.govt.nz - from October 29.

From that date submissions can be made in writing to the Secretary for the NZGB through the LINZ website or to nzgbsubmissions@linz.govt.nz. Alternatively, submissions can be sent to: Level 7, Radio New Zealand House, 155 The Terrace, PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145.