Whose name goes on a street?

Property developer David Borman had sought to name a street servicing a Casel St subdivision John McDonald Mews and another giving access to a Rimu St development Tarata Grove.

A decision on street names for two new Masterton housing projects has been put on hold for Masterton District Council officers to revisit the policy.

Property developer David Borman had sought to name a street servicing a Casel St subdivision John McDonald Mews and another giving access to a Rimu St development Tarata Grove. These were submitted to the council's Policy and Finance Committee on Wednesday.

Councillor Gary Caffell said he was not against the names and recognised the late John McDonald had "done a great job" as a teacher and in the community. But it was easy to overlook others who had served the town and district over a long period.

"I am thinking of Bob Francis, who was one of the country's longest-serving mayors, was chairman of the Fire Service Commission and chairman of the Wairarapa District Health Board.

"We have really seemed to have missed the boat with Bob.

"Then there is the likes of Sir Brian Lochore, who played his rugby here and lives in our district.

"Icons like these should be on some sort of register," Mr Caffell said.

Councillor Jonathan Hooker questioned whether it was "politic" to name streets after living people "or do you wait until they have died?"

Mayor Lyn Patterson said in previous cases it has always been the right of the developer to name new streets and put them to council for approval.

She said in light of the issues raised council officers would look at the naming policy and report to the full council meeting on December 10 when the question of naming streets for the two new subdivisions would again be discussed.