The New Zealand Geographic Board has accepted a Whangarei District Council request to change the name of a local mountain. The council had asked the board to officially change the name of Mt Parahaki to Parihaka. It also asked for Hatea (River) to be changed to Hoteo. Whangarei iwi have beenpressing for the changes, saying the names have been misspelt for years. The mountain's original name was Parihaka, which translates as "cliff dance" - after a war dance performed by occupants of a large pa in defiance of an enemy. The Hatea River's original name was Hoteo after the waterfall on the river. Geographic Board secretary Wendy Shaw said the board met last month and accepted the name change for the mountain but was concerned changing the river's name might lead to emergency services confusing the river with one of the same name in Rodney district. She said the proposed change for Mt Parihaka would probably be advertised in February, and the public would have three months to make submissions. Board staff would contact the Rodney District Council about Hoteo River and, provided there were no problems, the proposed change would likely be advertised next year. Both changes would need final endorsement from the board, or if opposing submissions were received, by the Minister of Land Information.
