Editorial: Name debate may be stayer

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick

There will always be those who don't like change, but the newly named Rotorua Lakes Council may have underestimated the depth of opposition to its brand "refresh".

Councillors last Thursday voted 7-5 to change the council's name from Rotorua District Council - by lunchtime the next day we were advised to begin referring to it by the new name.

On Saturday in an editorial I said I didn't mind the new name, and if the costs came in under the promised $10,000, it was a pretty inexpensive rebranding exercise.

But I also noted that I couldn't immediately see why the change was needed. And it seems I'm not alone.

Much of the opposition to the change is based on its cost, with many believing it won't stop at $10,000, but a lot of people have also questioned the necessity for the change.

Mayor Steve Chadwick said the name puts Rotorua on the map. "When our international visitors ask 'what is the Rotorua district' they will see it has lakes, they are a major feature of our region," she said.

This is true, but lakes are just one of the many major features that appeal to our visitors. Not least among the others are geothermal activity, Maori culture and forest activities.

Shirley Trumper, chairwoman of the Combined Ratepayers' Association of Ngakuru, Waikite Valley and Atiamuri, said the name-change process had shown a complete disregard for the rural and wider community as a whole.

Councillor Charles Sturt, who was absent from Thursday's vote, has also questioned the decision being made without public consultation, while councillor Glenys Searancke says there are more pressing matters we could concentrate on.

But names are important to people. I was in Wanganui five years ago when the town was debating the addition of an "h" to its name. A huge amount of passion was stirred and debate over the "h" continues to this day.

Maybe we'll still be arguing over the Lakes in our council's name in five years' time. But I hope not.