In a move to ensure road names reflect local history, culture, and identity, Whakatāne District Council Elected Members have approved the draft Road Naming and Addressing Policy to go out for public consultation. 

The current policy was last reviewed in 2014. The current policy review aims to provide a clear, inclusive process for naming and renaming roads, better aligning with the Council's vision, strategic priorities and strategies.

The Council encourages public feedback on several key proposed changes, including:
•    How road names reflect the history, culture, and identity of their locations.
•    Enabling local iwi and hapū to participate in road naming processes.
•    Ensuring road naming processes are completed within reasonable timeframes.

Dr Leny Woolsey, Manager of Strategy and Performance, emphasised the importance of this review. 

"This is an opportunity to evaluate how well our current policy functions for our district and ensure it aligns with other key Council strategies," Dr Woolsey said. 

"Road names can significantly contribute to telling our local stories, so we have proposed updates to the policy objectives and process to reflect this. We’re keen to find out whether our residents would support the updates we have suggested."

Dr Woolsey noted that applying the existing policy has become increasingly challenging as it no longer aligns with the Council's current vision, strategic priorities, and strategies. “This misalignment has led to unclear processes and delays for applicants.”

“Currently, the policy mandates consultation with iwi only when a Māori name is proposed. The new draft proposes that applicants must engage with iwi/hapū for all road naming processes, including naming new roads, and renaming existing ones.”

“This change aims to strengthen participation from iwi, hapū, and whānau in road naming and fulfil obligations under the Local Government Act 2002,” she added.

While New Zealand legislation under the Local Government Act 1974 grants the Council the power to name roads, the method for selecting suitable names is left to the Council's discretion. The policy serves as a framework to guide this process.

The Council invites all residents to review the draft policy and provide their feedback. Public input is vital to ensure the policy meets the community's needs and preserves the district's unique heritage.

Consultation will open Monday, 24 June and run through to Monday, 22 July.

Keep an eye out on Council’s website and social media channels for more information.