NZ's WW1 place names to be officially recognised

The areas around New Zealand are named after locations where Kiwi soldiers fought and died for their country. Photo / New Zealand Herald Archive

Sixteen places around New Zealand with names that reference World War I will be officially recognised.

The New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) made the announcement as part of its contribution to the Government's New Zealand WW100 programme, which supports activities and initiatives to mark the centenary of WWI.

The NZGB will approve 16 existing WWI-linked place names that have not yet been made official, and publish the stories behind the names.

"There are 30 of these WWI place names throughout New Zealand, which the NZGB considered when it met on 29 April 2015," said NZGB secretary Wendy Shaw.

The 16 place names that have been made official are: Anzac Bay (Katikati); Anzac Bay (Waiheke Island); Anzac Peaks (near Aoraki/Mount Cook); Ataturk Memorial (Wellington); Birdwood Range (Canterbury Foothills); Cradock Channel (Hauraki Gulf/Tikapa Moana); Jellicoe Cave (Northland); Jellicoe Channel (Hauraki Gulf/Tikapa Moana); Jellicoe Point (Lake Taupo); Jellicoe Ridge (Canterbury); Mount French; Mount Joffre (South Main Divide); Pyramus Peak (Canterbury); Girdlestone Peak (Mount Ruapehu); Girdlestone (Tararua Range); and Girdlestone Saddle (Tararua Range).

"The NZGB is also seeking to alter an existing recorded name -- correcting the spelling of Paschendale to 'Passchendaele' Ridge in Westland National Park/Tai Poutini National Park."

RSA president BJ Clark said the association welcomed the initiative to make the names official.

"Isn't that a wonderful thing," he said.

"Whilst we have acknowledged place names like this that will encourage us to remember the sacrifice of those that have served before us."

The correction to the spelling of Passchendaele was particularly important, he said.

"That mix-up is amazing isn't it. That in itself has got to be a positive."

The change of spelling would be given a month of public consultation, from May 28 to July 3. During this period, the NZGB would also research and consider other existing WWI place names identified by the public through the WWI00 programme.

This Anzac Day brought greater crowds than ever before and it was a good time to be thinking about such matters, Mr Clark said.

"It makes us remember that it's not only those that were killed, a lot of people came home and that affected the rest of their lives.

"There are families who were decimated because of the loss of their fathers, husbands, brothers etc.

"Then there are the families that struggled for years afterwards and we often forget about them, because the people who did come home, came home changed people."

Mr Clark also wondered if a similar initiative could be put forward to protect the New Zealand flag from being changed.

"Confirming the flag so then that could never be removed, that would be a wonderful thing as well," he said.

Information about all 30 WWI place names can be searched in the NZGB's Gazetteer online.

Anyone can make a submission either supporting or objecting to the proposal for Passchendaele Ridge.

Submissions can be made in writing to the Secretary for the New Zealand Geographic Board via the online forms, to nzgbsubmissions@linz.govt.nz, or to: Level 7, Radio New Zealand House, 155 The Terrace, PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145.