Views sought on ‘Remutaka Pass’ name

The New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (NZGB) today opened public consultation on a proposal to assign the name ‘Remutaka Pass’ to the pass at the summit of State Highway 2 between Upper Hutt and Featherston, which separates Rimutaka Range from Tararua Range.

The proposal seeks to assign the name to the pass only – not the hill itself, nor to replace the commonly used name ‘Rimutaka Hill Road’.

“The proposal was made by a former mayor of Masterton, who is a member of the Remutaka Pass Coordinating Group,” says NZGB Secretary Wendy Shaw.

”The NZGB considered the proposal and supporting information – including evidence of consultation with the South Wairarapa District Council, mana whenua and the community – on 29 April, and agreed to notify the proposal for public consultation.”

‘Remutaka’ is the original Māori name for the feature. It commemorates the moment when the edge (remu) of the cape of Haunui-a-Nanaia fell to the ground (taka) when he first viewed and named Wairarapa.

The NZGB accepts this translation – provided by the proposer and consistent with previous advice from a past NZGB member – and also acknowledges an alternative translation from the Rangitāne ki Wairarapa tradition.

“The proposal recognises the name’s historic significance to mana whenua, and the feature’s traditional use by Māori to pass from the Hutt Valley to the Wairarapa.

“And it meets with the NZGB’s requirements to enable appropriate recognition of cultural and heritage values associated with geographic features, and to collect original Māori names for recording on official charts and official maps.”

Public consultation will be open for three months, from 28 May to 28 August. Anyone can make a submission either supporting or objecting to this proposal.

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, or by post to: Level 7, Radio New Zealand House, 155 The Terrace, PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145.

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

ENDS

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