Editorial: Swapping District for Lakes

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It all happened very quickly.

In fact, if you missed the paper during the past few days, today might be the first you've heard that the Rotorua District Council has changed its name to the Rotorua Lakes Council - in name at least.

Its official name will remain unchanged, but for virtually all other intents and purposes we will now know our primary local government body by its new name.

It's been 35 years since the council last changed its name.*

(And don't forget Environment Bay of Plenty - it's not that long since the Bay of Plenty Regional Council dropped that identity.)

While I can't see why this latest change was needed, I do like the new name.

At first I did think Rotorua Lakes Council sounded like a new environmental body charged with overseeing our lakes, but once you know what it is it seems to make sense.

One reader has suggested retaining the district part of the name - the Rotorua Lakes District Council, which brings to mind not only the Queenstown Lakes District Council but also England's popular Lake District in Cumbria, but simplicity is always welcome.

(It would also tie in with the Lakes District Health Board).

Of course, there are issues over the cost of the name change, but if this can be kept below the estimated $10,000 it would seem to be a relatively cheap rebranding exercise.

I have to admit, I'm a sucker for novelty, so the very concept of a new name appeals.

I also believe in letting our elected officials get on and make big decisions on our behalf. But I do think it's worth pointing out that of 12 councillors present for Thursday night's vote, five voted against the change.

That's not insignificant.

(Just out of interest, we asked the other councillor Charles Sturt which way he would have voted. At time of writing we haven't heard back).

*At the risk of giving away my age, I still remember the old county council building where the Spotlight carpark is now. The city and county councils amalgamated in 1979, giving us the Rotorua District Council. (Keaney's Castle, the current council buildings, opened in 1986.)