April 24, 2023
Pressure on to restore Kororāreka name
An advocate for changing Russell back to its original name of Kororāreka says people support the change once they realise the British lord it was named after never stepped foot in Aotearoa.
Kororāreka Marae Society chair Deb Rewiri says the name was originally applied to the nation’s first capital at Okiato south of the Bay of Islands township, and then seemed to shift when the centre of colonial government was moved to Auckland.
John Russell was the British colonial secretary at the time of the signing of the treaty of Waitangi.
Ms Rewiri says most submitters have supported the proposed change, although some Russell business owners fear a name change would affect their operations.
She says it’s more likely they will benefit from a unique name.
“Throughout the world there are 29 different places called Russell. There’s only ever going to be one Kororāreka – and so let’s celebrate that,”
The Geographic Board will make is decision on the name change later this year.