The official re-naming of a Hamilton street and local Park from old colonial militia names to ones gifted by mana whenua is a historical reset and symbolic redress for the historical confiscation of lands.

Ahead of the blessing ceremony today, many non-Māori and Māori alike say it is a heartening ‘first’ for the city. Von Tempsky Street and neighbouring Dawson Park disappear, replaced by Puutikitiki Street and Te Wehenga Park.

“This puts right in a small way, the wrongs of the past,” says Lady Tureiti Moxon, Managing Director of Te Kōhao Health.

“It’s really important to have names that have meaning for the city. It’s an acknowledgment of over one million acres of land being confiscated in this Waikato region.”

One of the largest Māori health and Whānau Ora providers in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton, Te Kōhao Health supported the impassioned submission of local pharmacist Ian McMichael to the Council lobbying for the name change.

“Kaumatua and fellow Waitangi Tribunal Hauora claimant, Timi Maipi and I attended the Hamilton City Council meeting when Ian McMichael made his submission for the name change,” Lady Tureiti said. Te Kōhao Health operates a kaupapa Māori complex called Puutikitiki in the neighbourhood.

“A lot of the streets of Hamilton city have been given Militia names – like Hamilton, Von Tempsky Street, Bryce Street, Grey Street, Victoria Street – all named after colonisers of the day.”

McMichael was fervent in his advocacy to correct history. He says the process of change has been a “team effort”. “It is the right thing to do to change the name. It has been fantastic working with local Iwi, Ngāti Wairere and Wiremu Puke, and the Council staff. I am excited,” he says. “These are names which go back to the original inhabitants of the lands and allow their memories to be honoured.”

Lady Tureiti believes the more people who know and understand their history and the history of Waikato Tainui the better. “At the end of the day any change in place names must be signed off by the Council. Therefore, they need to have a good understanding and knowledge of the history of this area and inform themselves so that changes can be made without engendering fear and distrust.”

In Eltham, Taranaki locals have been lobbying since 2020 to change Von Tempsky Street in their rohe. Lady Tureiti hopes what’s happening in Kirikiriroa expedites changes across the motu.

“In the end, our Council is really saying “we do care about the history – we acknowledge it and want to put it right” because street names are one way, they can do that.”

“Hamilton was named after Captain Hamilton who never came here. This is about us understanding the wrongs of history.”

The blessing ceremony involving Mayor Southgate, Rangatira, mana whenua, Ian McMichael, Lady Tureiti Moxon, Council staff and members of the community will occur at 9.30am 29 November in Hamilton East, at Puutikitiki Street and Te Wehenga Park tomorrow morning.

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