Remutaka winds slowly over hill

It’s a long and winding road, and the journey from Rimutaka to Remutaka has been 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 Geographic Board recognised the new spelling in October last year, which includes places such as Remutaka Forest Park, Remutaka Stream, Remutaka Pass at the top of the hill road, and the Remutaka range itself.

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

Eagle-eyed motorists would have noticed the New Zealand Transport Agency referring 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 High-

E BEFORE I

The range of hills was originally named Remutaka by Haunui-a-Nanaia as part of his journey of discovery across the southern North Island. The ko¯rero (story) goes that it refers to the place where he sat down and gazed on the land below– ‘‘remu’’ means ‘‘to gaze about’’, and ‘‘taka’’ means ‘‘to sit down’’. way 2, as it is part of the state highway network.’’

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.’’

There had beeen some resistance to changing a long-standing name that people were used to, but many came around once they understood its significance.

‘‘It’s all about the correct way of pronouncing the name,’’ he said.

With the Geographic Board’s official change of its place names, the Department of Conservation 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 changing 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 already 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 of a spelling change at its next meeting.

The parliamentary electorate Rimutaka, held by Labour’s Chris Hipkins, continues for now 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, approximately every five years.

The next review is scheduled for early next year.