Proposal to change name of Russell township to original Māori name
Thursday, 19 January 2023
The name of New Zealand’s first capital, Russell, could be changed back to its original Māori name, Kororāreka.
The push for the change in name comes from the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pau Taunaha o Aotearoa, which is calling for public feedback on the proposal.
Russell, a small township in Northland’s Bay of Islands, was one of the first places where Europeans settled.
It was known as Kororāreka until the early 1840s.
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Russell was named after the leader of the British House of Commons, Lord John Russell, who never visited New Zealand.
To this day, the township is still known as Kororāreka by many in the community.
According to the geographic board, the proposal to change Russell back to its Māori name has local support from Te Rūnanga ā Iwi o Ngāpuhi and the Far North District Council.
The name ‘Kororāreka’ tells the story of an unwell chief who was brought back to health with soup made from the little blue penguin.
He declared “how sweet is the penguin” – kororā: blue penguin; reka: sweet.
Far North District mayor Moko Tepania said he was looking forward to the discussion the name change proposal would spark.
“If anything, something like this just brings it into public discussion and captures the history and culture that we have here,” Tepania said.
“I definitely support that it’s going to public consultation and I know there will be different views, but it progresses it along.
“What I really like is the fact that people get to know more about it, and all of this historical kōrero that goes with it is back in the public domain.”
Tepania said he put up a poll on his Instagram page and received great feedback from people in support of the proposal.
“Moving forward as a nation, we want to have more discussions like this and recognising our Māori cultural history is part and parcel of it too.”
Public views on the Māori name proposal can be submitted until April 18, before a final decision is made at the geographic board’s mid-year hui.
People can make a submission on the name change and also share their views on where the official boundaries of the township should be set online or by emailing nzgbsubmissions@linz.govt.nz.
Submissions can also be made by letter to the Secretary of the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa, c/o Land Information New Zealand, PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145.
The geographic board has also added macrons to three other names in the area: Kororāreka Point, Kororāreka Point Scenic Reserve and Kororāreka Bay.