Media release

Newmarket Business Association

Sunday, 15 March 2009

Battle breaks out over new Auckland railway station name

An Auckland business association is battling a residents’ association to win the hearts and minds of members of the New Zealand Geographic Board over the naming of a new Auckland railway station.

The new western line railway station on the corner of Khyber Pass Road and Park Road is due to be open in March 2010 and will replace the Boston Road station.

Rail authority Ontrack has put forward two naming options to the New Zealand Geographic Board to formally consider at the end of this month. The suggested names of ‘Khyber Pass’ and ‘Grafton’ are the frontrunners.

The Newmarket Business Association’s submission strongly recommended ‘Khyber Pass’, while the Grafton Residents Association is pushing for ‘Grafton’.

“We respect that over the years the suburb of Grafton’s identity has been eroded away by the likes of motorways. However while we have a lot of sympathy for this disappearing suburb, we strongly believe the name of the station should reflect its actual geographical location nothing else,” said Cameron Brewer, head of the Newmarket Business Association.

“This station will sit right in the middle of Khyber Pass Road, a well known Auckland arterial road. What’s more, let’s not forget that it is replacing ‘Boston Road’ so there is a strong precedent to call the station after a road not a suburb.

“Very few Aucklanders standing on the corner of Khyber Pass Road and Park Road would tell you they are standing in Grafton. The site of the new station is on the very far reaches of modern day Grafton. If the station was named Grafton it would not be a good geographical representation of where it is and would only confuse commuters.

Mr Brewer said the most popular destination in Grafton was the Auckland Hospital, yet if visitors thought the Grafton station was the best option of getting to the hospital, they’d be disappointed when they got dropped off at the bottom of Park Road.

“Grafton residents are using this naming exercise in an attempt to reclaim some suburban identity. That is to be commended. However this is not about what’s in the best interests for Grafton residents or Newmarket businesses. This should be about what’s in the best interests for rail commuters and we strongly believe ‘Khyber Pass’ most accurately describes the new station’s geographical location. We have every confidence the New Zealand Geographical Board will agree,” says Mr Brewer.

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