Perfume Point it shall still remain

After considering submissions, the NZ Geographic Board decided not to proceed with the name change. Photo / Paul Taylor

Perfume Point will keep its name.

Public opposition helped sway the decision to scrap plans to rename the Ahuriri landmark East Pier Point.

Last year the New Zealand Geographic Board considered a proposal from Mana Ahuriri to formally name the point Te Karaka - a name previously used by Maori for the site.

The board said Perfume Point was an "anecdotal" name and, given the site hosted a navigational beacon tower and "because of maritime safety and navigational aid concerns", it recommended it officially be called East Pier Point.

The move drew a lot of criticism from locals.

Debe Clark of Napier wrote to the paper saying: "I've lived here all my life and we all knew what Perfume Point meant, so why take it away? It's part of our history, even if it wasn't that nice years ago. It's fine now."

Peter Price of Hastings said "Perfume Point" epitomised the era. It was not a "whimsical" tag.

After considering submissions, the NZ Geographic Board decided not to proceed with the name change.

The board yesterday said it based its decision on the community opposition and lack of support for naming the feature.

It also took into consideration Napier City Council's opposition and the Harbourmaster's submissions.

The decision means that it will remain with no name on official maps and charts.

However, the council uses the name Perfume Point on signs and its website.

The name came about because the site was at one time a smelly sewage outlet point.

What do you think?
Comment below, email letters@hbtoday.co.nz or write letters to the editor to PO BOX180, Hastings, 4122.