Stokes Beach and Otūmoetai Beach name proposals

The New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa today opened public consultation on an amended version of its proposal to assign the name ‘Stokes Beach’ to an unnamed section of beach within Tauranga Harbour.

The three month consultation on the original proposal closed on 14 February 2014, attracting 35 submissions – 32 objecting, with most preferring the original but unofficial Māori name ‘Otūmoetai Beach’.

“The Board has a statutory function to collect and encourage the use of original Māori names,” says NZGB Secretary Wendy Shaw.

“The Board – in consultation with Tauranga Moana kaumatua – has amended the proposal to reduce the extent of ‘Stokes Beach’ and is consulting on another to assign ‘Otūmoetai Beach’ to the larger section of the beach to the west.”

Under the proposals, ‘Stokes Beach’ would apply to the area directly in front of Beach Road (the eastern section) and ‘Otūmoetai Beach’ would be given to the area of beach in front of Otūmoetai Pā and extending west to Tilby Point.

A third easternmost section of the beach will remain unnamed – but a name could be proposed by the community in the future – and three other associated Otūmoetai names are proposed for the Pā, the suburb and the sea channel.

“Consultation is open until 5 September 2014, giving the Tauranga community full opportunity to provide their views and feedback on the proposals.”

Any member of the public can make a submission either in support of, or objecting to, these proposals.

Submissions can be made in writing to the Secretary for the New Zealand Geographic Board, via the online forms, or to nzgbsubmissions@linz.govt.nz.

Visit the LINZ website for information about these names, general place naming and the New Zealand Geographic Board.

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