The New Zealand Geographic Board has notified 699 place name decisions, including Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The New Zealand Geographic Board has notified 699 place name decisions, including Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Wellington is now officially called Wellington.
It turns out New Zealand's capital city didn't have official approval to be called Wellington until just this month.
The New Zealand Geographic Board has notified 699 place name decisions, with 273 of them in the Wellington Region.
Some of the better-known place nameswhich are now official include Wellington, Barrett Reef in Wellington Harbour (Port Nicholson), Clareville near Carterton and Waikanae on Kāpiti Coast.
"It may surprise many to learn that the name of the place they live in has not yet been made official, even if it has been used for a long time," said board chairman Anselm Haanen.
Once official, place names must be used in all official documents, like road signs, maps, websites and databases.
"It's important to ensure we preserve and protect place names so that they endure, and we have certainty about their location, extent, origin and authenticity," Haanen said.
Another 382 significant Māori place names around the North Island and at the top of the South Island have been made official by the board.