Thorny H in Whanganui debate resurfaces

Mayor Annette Main was about to add an "H" to the Whanganui District Council name in 2015. Photo / File

The spelling of Wanganui/Whanganui in the Horizons Regional Council's formal name is unresolved - to the frustration of its two Whanganui representatives.

One of the matters Horizons ratepayers could submit on in the council's Long-term Plan was whether to change that name from Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council to Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council.

There were 104 submitters for the change, and 208 against it.

It was the "H" in Whanganui more than the macron on the "U" in Manawatū that was at issue, councillors Nicola Patrick and David Cotton say.

Horizons has already voted twice on whether to change the spelling. Last time, in February 2017, those who voted were all in favour. Two abstained - chairman Bruce Gordon and David Cotton.

Cotton was against the change the first time it came up. He has since listened to input from the likes of new Horizons councillor Wiremu Te Aweawe, and changed his mind.

"I had the view it was time to move forward. I didn't want to vote against the motion so I abstained, which allowed it to go through."

That vote wasn't enough to change the spelling, because the New Zealand Geographic Board still required consultation. Raising the matter for submitters to the Long-term Plan is consultation, the councillors said, and is cheap and efficient.

Both were annoyed the extra step had to be taken, but Cotton said it was a legal requirement.

"A lot of the processes that we go through is just so frustrating."

For Patrick the consultation is a "ridiculous technicality", since the district's name was changed to Whanganui in 2015.

There was speculation the council had opened the matter for submission as a way to galvanise opposition to the spelling change but neither Patrick nor Cotton believe so.

For now they are listening to submissions. The council will debate the matter next week, and another vote is likely to be taken.

Despite twice as many submitters wanting no change, both think the "Whanganui" spelling is the likely result.

The "Whanganui" spelling was given to the Whanganui River in 1991. In 2009 the New Zealand Geographic Board said either "Whanganui" or "Wanganui" were acceptable for the town, but that government agencies were expected to use Whanganui.

In 2015 Land Information New Zealand changed the name of the district to Whanganui.