Wellington walkway known as 'rape alley' to be renamed

The unnamed walkway between Victoria University and The Terrace, Wellington, is set to get a name. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A Wellington walkway known as "rape alley" could finally have a name that doesn't reflect its shadowy past.

The pathway that runs between Victoria University's Boyd Wilson field and The Terrace does not have an official name.

In recent years it has been home to a string of vicious assaults.

Tomorrow, Wellington City councillors will consider a proposal to name the path Kake Tonu Way, which means ever upwards in Maori.

Council officers say they hope the name will help change people's perception of the path, which has been the scene of high profile crimes.

In January this year a woman was chased by a man wearing a balaclava and pinned to the ground.

On Easter weekend in 2014 there were two sexually motivated attacks, which later featured on the television show Police Ten 7 and sparked a student march against sexual violence.

Wellington City Council safe city adviser Julia Hamilton said the council undertook a safety audit of the path after the assault in January.

She said that resulted in the decision to name the path, increase maintenance in the area, install a CCTV camera, paint a mural and do earthworks to improve sightlines.

"People have perceived this as an unsafe space so through this project we're really hoping to change that perception and have it seen as a positive space, a safe space for people to come and go."

A recent survey by Victoria University security staff recorded approximately 2000 users in a 24-hour period, on a Friday and Saturday.

They were mostly university students but also children from nearby Te Aro School.

A school student recommended the name Kake Tonu, which is the school's proverb.

Hamilton said it was a strong name.

"The students see it as their space for learning and developing up to the university."

Other suggestions for the name included Aroha and Wahine Toa, which means strong women.

Lambton Ward councillor Nicola Young said she liked the recommended name.

"The name actually reflects the fact it is a staircase, so the name means ever upwards, and that's what you'll be doing if you're going from the city up to university. So I think it's a very clever name."

She said a name would help police identify the location should another call for help come.

"Giving it a specific geographical reference will help if there are any problems. People will be able to pinpoint where it is rather than saying 'that vague walkway'."

Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association president Rory Lenihan-Ikin said some students were taking large detours so they did not have to use the path.

"When there have been not nice things that have happened in a space, it's important to do that softer stuff and give it some new life and get the community to take ownership."

He said there was still a long way to go to making the path safe.

"It's certainly not something that's just going to change overnight. It's going to be a long process of changing culture around assault and improving the infrastructure."