Regional pass idea thrown open to public

The New Zealand Geographic Board agreed this week to hold public consultation on former Masterton mayor Frank Cody's proposal to assign the name "Remutaka Pass" to the geographic pass.

The public will be consulted on the name "Remutaka" for the pass between Tararua and the Rimutaka ranges.

The New Zealand Geographic Board Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (NZGB) agreed this week to hold public consultation on former Masterton mayor Frank Cody's proposal to assign the name "Remutaka Pass" to the geographic pass.

Mr Cody made the proposal as a member of the Remutaka Pass Co-ordinating Group. The pass is the lowest point between the Rimutaka and Tararua ranges.

"The proposal that the NZGB considered today is to name only the pass, which is currently unnamed," said board chairman Mark Dyer.

"This proposal does not relate to the name of the hill, or that of Rimutaka Hill Rd. The naming of roads is outside of the NZGB's jurisdiction and is a matter for councils and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA)."

Remutaka is the original Maori name for the feature, commemorating the edge (remu) of Haunui-a-Nanaia's cape that fell to the ground (taka), when he first saw and named Wairarapa.

The proposal recognises the name's historic significance to mana whenua, and the feature's use by Maori to pass from the Hutt Valley to Wairarapa.

"The NZGB considered the proposal and supporting information - which included evidence of consultation with the South Wairarapa District Council, mana whenua and the community. We agreed to notify the proposal for public consultation."

Consultation will open within the next six-eight weeks and will run for three months.

The board will advise the public when consultation is set to begin.