Protests over changes to local body area names

Howick has been a settlement since 1849. Photo / The Aucklander

Changes to long-established local body area names for the new Super City map have drawn protests from some residents, who say they will fight them or ignore them.

The most vocal protest has come from residents of Howick-Pakuranga-Botany, which has been renamed Te Irirangi by the Local Government Commission in its revamp of boundaries of 12 wards and 21 local boards under the Auckland Council banner.

The areas' community boards will jointly hold extraordinary meetings at 7.30pm on Friday in Howick College's theatre.

Manukau City councillor Michael Williams, of Botany, said the public meeting would allow people to give their views on the new name, which they were not consulted about.

Later, the boards would vote on whether to ask the commission to reconsider and to ask Local Government Minister Rodney Hide for an opportunity for Howick-Pakuranga-Botany to be retained despite a tight timeline for the new legislation.

Two petitions were under way and an online version of one of them recorded 2200 views - "97 per cent supported keeping the old name".

Mr Williams said residents were particularly vocal about keeping Howick on the local body map, because it had been a settlement since 1849.

Manukau, Waitakere and North Shore will be reassigned from cities to "wards" from November.

Manukau City councillor Bob Wichman said: "I was living in Papatoetoe City until it became part of Manukau City in 1965 and I identify with Papatoetoe. But when I travel and I'm asked where I live, I always proudly put down Manukau City.

"It will be a terrible shame if the use of 'Manukau City' dies out ..."

Historian Bruce Ringer said the name "Manukau" was chosen for the new city by public ballot in 1965. It had also been the name of Manukau County since 1876.

Waitakere City Council has residents asking whether after November 1, people out west can still use the name 'Waitakere' in their postal address?

New Zealand Post's manager of addressing services, Geoff Pearce, expects changes to postal addresses will be required, especially if current names are replaced by a common city name of Auckland.

"We will be ... liaising with the Auckland Transition Agency and subsequently the Auckland Council as decisions are made on how parts of Auckland are to be referred to in the future."

Major switch

* Local body area names will be changed for the new Super City map.

* Howick-Pakuranga-Botany has been renamed Te Irirangi by the Local Government Commission.

* Manukau, Waitakere and North Shore will be reassigned from cities to "wards" from November.