Both names carry significant meaning for Tūranganui-a-Kiwa/Poverty Bay community

“In making my decision I considered that the Gisborne District Council’s proposal followed several years of discussion and debate within the community. Further to this, the Board consulted for three months and received 609 submissions.”

Poverty Bay's name is richer with the inclusion of Te Reo in the new name of "Tūranganui-a-Kiwa / Poverty Bay" Minister for Land Information Eugenie Sage announced today.

"Tūranganui-a-Kiwa / Poverty Bay" applies only to the bay enclosed by Young Nick's Head (Te Kuri) and Tuaheni Point, in accordance with the original request by Gisborne District Council. It does not apply to the wider landscape and region often referred to as Poverty Bay, nor to Gisborne or any other area. The name "Tūranganui-a-Kiwa" can be translated as the great [or long] standing place of Kiwa.

"It is clear to me that both names carry significant meaning for the community," Eugenie Sage said.

"On one hand the restoration of the traditional Māori name Tūranganui-a-Kiwa for the bay is long overdue for local iwi, given the importance of their tupuna or ancestor. At the same time, there is significant heritage value associated with the name Poverty Bay being given by Captain James Cook and recognising his first landing in New Zealand, as well as the use of the name by local people."

The Minister's decision followed a proposal for a dual name from Gisborne District Council to the New Zealand Geographic Board/Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (the Board) in March 2018.

"In making my decision I considered that the Gisborne District Council's proposal followed several years of discussion and debate within the community. Further to this, the Board consulted for three months and received 609 submissions."

Maps, navigation charts and other resources will now be updated to reflect the change.

(with Inputs from New Zealand Government Press Release)