Maxwell name change edges closer after community consultation results

The prospect of changing the name of Maxwell has created an "uneasy undertone" in the community, according to councillor Charlie Anderson. Photo / Bevan Conley

The results of a public consultation on Maxwell's name have revealed that the majority of submitters supported changing the village's name to Pākaraka.

Whanganui District Council conducted the consultation between November 23 and December 21 last year, after agreeing in August to work in partnership with Ngāti Maika of Ngā Rauru Kiitahi to make the application to the New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB).

Policy team leader Jasmine Hessell, who presented the results of the consultation at a council meeting on Tuesday, said of the 255 submissions received, 189 supported the name change and 58 opposed it.

Of the remaining submissions, four were neutral and preferred to leave the decision to the NZGB, one submitted an alternative suggestion for the name of the township, and two others sought further consultation to identify a name suitable to both Pakeha and Māori.

Councillors accepted a resolution to formally support the renaming application.

However, councillor Charlie Anderson opposed the renaming, saying at Tuesday's council meeting that, in his opinion, it was "a huge mistake".

"History can't change, it's still history," Anderson said.

"We certainly shouldn't selectively try to erase the past."

Whanganui District Councillor Charlie Anderson. Photo / Bevan Conley

Anderson said an "uneasy undertone" already existed in Maxwell as a result of the proposal, and the renaming would only polarise the community further.

"I understand why the people of Pākaraka are requesting a name change, but I worry the split will not benefit them as a whole."

Fellow councillor Alan Taylor said while it was a "difficult one" for some people, changing the name was the right thing to do.

"However, I know a number of people there who are pretty upset about this," Taylor said.

"They've been long-term European settlers, their families live there now of course, and their forebears are mentioned on the roll of honour as having fought and died in two world wars, and I think maybe even the South African war.

"I'm just a little disappointed that representatives from that side of this discussion didn't present to council, because I think it would have been worth hearing."

Regardless of the name change, Taylor said he hoped the story of George Maxwell, one of the founding members of the Kai-iwi Yeomanry Cavalry Volunteers, would not be erased.

The volunteers were involved in the notorious Handley's Woolshed killings in November 1868, where they attacked a group of Māori boys aged between 10 and 12. By most Pākehā accounts, two boys were killed.

Alan Taylor said he hoped the story of George Maxwell wouldn't be erased if the name was changed. Photo / Bevan Conley

"What I do hope is that the story of Maxwell himself, and the deeds he did that were bad and wrong, are still not erased," Taylor said.

"Perhaps in the Memorial Hall at Maxwell that story can be displayed, and I hope that's not offensive to Ngā Rauru, so that we don't forget about it and we still continue to learn that it's not the way to behave, and how we got that wrong way back when the town was first called Maxwell."

Pākaraka Pa chairman Ray Hina, of Ngāti Maika, said it was great to have the council's support in their bid for the name change.

"We are pleased with how the process is going, and after the council voted in support, we were really happy," Hina said.

"What the council have done in their support of our journey, we can't thank them enough."

Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall said council had already resolved to work in partnership with Ngā Rauru in relation to the application, in particular by carrying out the community consultation required.

"However, our resolution today formalises Whanganui District Council's support for Ngāti Maika of Ngā Rauru Kiitahi's application to the New Zealand Geographic Board and signals that we acknowledge the importance of this historical grievance being recognised and addressed," McDouall said.

Submitter and Maxwell resident Dereck Adamson suggested Pākaraka-Maxwell as an alternative.

"Where would the deleting of the word Maxwell end ... is Maxwell Station Rd to become Pākaraka Station Rd, which will no doubt cause confusion with the current Pākaraka Rd anyway, and extrapolating from that there was never a station on Pākaraka Rd because of where the railway line runs," Adamson said.

"The double-barrelled name would be the best solution (as in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, etc).

"Sorry people ... no race of people can be responsible for their ancestors' misdemeanours, and that includes all races."

Submitter Dereck Adamson wondered if the name change would affect Maxwell Station Rd as well. Photo / Bevan Conley

Waitotara Valley resident Clarke Kauika-Stevens supported the name change.

"The change to rename to Pākaraka is important for the iwi Nga Rauru Kiitahi" Kauika- Stevens said in his submission.

"We should not have to live with the thought that the name Maxwell is associating and glorifying atrocities inflicted on our people."

Maxwell Kindergarten teacher Michaela Luoni's submission supported the name change.

"I know the history, have great respect for the iwi and community and we all (the teachers at Maxwell) strongly support this name change to Pākaraka," Luoni said.

"We would love our kindergarten to be Pākaraka Kindergarten."

Fraser Middleton held the opposite view, saying in his submission that changing names created "a dangerous precedent for places around New Zealand and the world".

"Since the date in 1868, people have worked hard and created a far better and prosperous history for the proud and prosperous area of Maxwell," Middleton said.

"The council should be independent and let the community of Maxwell decide through an unbiased and democratic process."

All information received during the consultation period has now been forwarded to Ngā Rauru Kiitahi so that Ngāti Maika's application can be prepared.

The New Zealand Geographic Board's next meeting is on April 20, 2021.