Te reo Māori names reinstated around Banks Peninsula in Canterbury

Thursday, 9 July 2020

Sugarloaf above Christchurch is now also officially known as Te Heru-o-Kahukura after te reo Māori names were reinstated for 13 places on Te Pātaka-o-Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula. (file photo)

Pukeatua and Dyers Pass, Ōrongomai and Cass Peak, Tapuwaeharuru and Evans Pass – te reo Māori names have been reinstated for 13 places on Te Pātaka-o-Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula.

The te reo names have been officially restored and have the same legal status as their European equivalents.

The changes were proposed by Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke (Rāpaki Rūnanga) to the New Zealand Geographic Board, with Land Information Minister Eugenie Sage formally announcing the changes at Rāpaki Marae on Wednesday.

Ngāi Tahu kaumātua Tā Tipene O’Regan spoke at the announcement, outlining the importance of place names and the stories and ancestors they acknowledged in te ao Māori.

**READ MORE:

A drone shot of the Sugarloaf tower and building in the Port Hills above Christchurch. (Video first published in August 2018)

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“The way of holding our place in the land and in our memory, is in our place names.”

Sage said restoring traditional Rāpaki place names alongside the English place names recognised the history and significance of these places.

She said the stories behind place names were rich in history and the dual names provided a link to these stories.

THE FULL LIST:

Aua / King Billy Island

Kaitangata / Mansons Peninsula

Ōmawete / Coopers Knob

Ōrongomai / Cass Peak

Pukeatua / Dyers Pass

Tapuwaeharuru / Evans Pass

Te Ahi-a-Tamatea (formerly Rapaki Rock)

Te Heru-o-Kahukura / Sugarloaf

Te Moenga-o-Wheke / The Tors

Te Piaka / Adderley Head

Te Tihi-o-Kahukura / Castle Rock

Te Rāpaki-o-Te Rakiwhakaputa (formerly Rapaki)

Te Upoko-o-Kurī / Witch Hill