The long and winding road to adopting Remutaka

The journey from Rimutaka to Remutaka is taking its time.

Rangita¯ ne iwi was granted the changing of the name as part of its Treaty of Waitangi settlement, made legal last year, but it has taken longer for it filter through to official agencies and institutions.

The New Zealand Geographic Board recognised the new spelling in October, which includes places such as Remutaka Forest Park, Remutaka Stream, Remutaka Pass and the Remutaka Range.

Several other organisations are rolling out the new name on signs, online documentation and correspondence.

The New Zealand Transport Agency now refers to Remutaka on its online road alerts, and on signs at certain points on the hill road.

Regional transport systems manager Mark Owen said the agency was progressing with work to change references to the new spelling on its signs and information boards.

However, the name ‘‘Rimutaka Hill Road’’ was an unofficial and colloquial one. ‘‘The road itself is called State Highway 2.’’

Mike Kawana, of Rangita¯ ne o Wairarapa, said the spelling was important because it changed the way the word was pronounced and, therefore, its meaning.

‘‘In terms of our desire to revitalise our culture, this is part of bringing back those stories. It’s not just a name, it’s part of the bigger story. It’s all about the correct way of pronouncing the name,’’ he said.

With the geographic board’s official change of its placenames, the Department of Conservation (DOC) is following suit.

Though much of its signage still bears the Rimutaka spelling, the department promises to have all of its main public signs modified by the end of the year.

Spokesman Jim Flack said altering the spelling was not a case of being pedantic but rather acknowledging the Treaty settlement decision and correcting a mistake.

‘‘We’re committing to honouring that in all DOC’s published material, whether that be online, on signs or in internal correspondence.’’

Most online references on DOC websites had been changed but there was still printed material bearing the Rimutaka spelling. This would change as new material replaced it.

The Department of Corrections said it had no plans to change the spelling of Rimutaka Prison ‘‘at this time’’.

The Rimutaka Junior Rams Rugby Football Club in Upper Hutt plans to bring up the subject at its next meeting.

The parliamentary electorate Rimutaka, held by Labour’s Chris Hipkins, continues to use the old spelling.

The Representation Commission, which is responsible for electorate boundaries and names, can make changes only during the boundary review process, about every five years. The next review is set for early 2019.