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January 25, 2023
Kororāreka gains support to return to original name
Peter Verschaffelt
Posted On January 25, 2023
Download AudioThe chair of Kororāreka Marae says there is widespread support from Russell residents for the township’s original name to be restored.
Deb Rewiri made an application to the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa back in 2021 which is now being considered.
She says the majority of those at a hui on the issue yesterday were pākeha, and some were appalled to find that ‘Russell’ who was an English official had never come to New Zealand.
“Our people, our whānau, every Māori that visits here never refers to it as Russell, They refer to it as Kororāreka, the name that has been in existence since our tūpuna arrived 850 years ago into what is known as the Bay of Islands or Ipipiri,” Ms Rewiri says
The only support for a joint name came from a few business people who were concerned visitors may have difficulty finding them.
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