Minister suggests councils name streets after veterans

Naming streets after war veterans may help stem the use of New Zealand's most common street name - Beach Rd. Photo / Martin Sykes

Councils could honour war veterans by naming streets after them, Veterans' Affairs Minister Rick Barker said today.

"Street names are an excellent way of honouring the service and sacrifice of those who fought and died for the lifestyle and freedom we all enjoy in New Zealand today," Mr Barker said.

"Naming street names after those who made the ultimate sacrifice is a tremendous way to keep their memory alive."

Mr Barker has written to local councils to ask them to consider the idea when naming new streets.

Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association president John Campbell believes others should follow the lead of the Queenstown Lakes District Council.

Queenstown Lakes District Council included names from local war memorials on the list of approved council names for developers to use when naming new roads.

The initiative was taken during last year's Year of the Veteran.

"The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association supports and applauds this initiative, and sees it as an appropriate and significant way in which all New Zealanders can remember the sacrifices of these brave young Kiwis," Mr Campbell said.

Mr Barker said some mayors supported the idea.

- NZPA