The New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa have opened for public consultation the proposed name changes for the Fiordland Marine Area. The proposal is for dual te reo Māori and English names for the 16 sounds and inlets in Fiordland.
Public consultation will run for three months from 20 May to 20 August 2019.
The board says restoring traditional Ngāi Tahu names alongside well-known and established English names will recognise the significance of both names and provide a window to rich stories in both Māori and English.
While most of the sounds and inlets in Fiordland are, in strict geographic terms, fiords, the board agreed to retain ‘Sound’ and ‘Inlet’ in the proposed official names because of their long-established common use.
Nancy Sound to Hinenui / Nancy Sound
Bradshaw Sound to Kaikiekie / Bradshaw Sound
Edwardson Sound to Moana-whenua-pōuri / Edwardson Sound
Preservation Inlet to Rakituma / Preservation Inlet
Chalky Inlet to Taiari / Chalky Inlet
Charles Sound to Taiporoporo / Charles Sound
Caswell Sound to Taitetimu / Caswell Sound
Dusky Sound to Tamatea / Dusky Sound
Thompson Sound to Te Awa-o-Tū / Thompson Sound
Long Sound to Te Awaroa / Long Sound
Sutherland Sound to Te Hāpua / Sutherland Sound
George Sound to Te Houhou / George Sound
Cunaris Sound to Te Korowhakaunu / Cunaris Sound
Breaksea Sound to Te Puaitaha / Breaksea Sound
Dagg Sound to Te Rā / Dagg Sound
The NZ Gazette notice is also on the Internal Affairs and LINZ websites.
