New names ‘a win-win’
Wellington’s waterfront walkway could soon officially have a new name – Ara Moana.
The city council and iwi are backing the name, which translates, as ‘‘ocean pathway’’.
The proposal was made at the council’s regulatory processes committee yesterday.
Mayor Justin Lester supported the plan as part of a wider discussion around approving a name for a waterfront access lane on Waterloo Quay – which will see the Lady Elizabeth police launches recognised.
Committee chairman Malcolm Sparrow said the proposal was a win-win.
‘‘We can name the waterfront access lane Lady Elizabeth Lane to acknowledge the police maritime heritage, and Ara Moana is in keeping with the draft te reo policy.’’
The stretch of waterfront that could be named Ara Moana was from the bottom of Whitmore St to Herd St.
Senior Sergeant David Houston said police were delighted the Lady Elizabeth Lane had been accepted.
‘‘The area around the lane has been the home of Wellington’s Police Maritime Unit/Wharf Police for 100 years, and holds a special place in the hearts of all of those who have worked in the unit and on the ‘Lady Liz’ launches,’’ he said.
Last month, Lester tried to overturn a council officers’ recommendation of Lady Elizabeth Lane for both paths, and use Taimoana instead, to reflect the council’s new policy of preferring Ma¯ ori names.
The committee yesterday agreed to a recommendation from councillor Diane Calvert to postpone the decision until June 14, pending consultation with area business owners and residents.
Said Lester: ‘‘I’m very happy. It was our compromise and I’ve made my point that I would like to give priority for Ma¯ ori names. Ara Moana would be an even better name than Taimoana.’’
Māori Partnership Board member Peter Jackson said upon consultation with mana whenua they decided Ara Moana would be an appropriate name for this important area of Wellington.
‘‘As everybody knows Moana means sea and Ara means path. So, what could be more appropriate that have the name that actually fits to a well-known area for Wellingtonians, cyclists and tourists? We support both names,’’ Jackson said.
Lester said he had wondered if people would make a connection with the 1990 massacre in the small seaside town of Aramoana, near Dunedin.
It should have no relevance to the proposed new waterfront name, which was named after the ferry and referenced an ocean path, and was spelled differently.