Summarised by Centrist
In what appears to be a microcosm of an ongoing culture war, a long-standing dispute over the naming of a street in Whakatāne has finally been settled.
Homeowners Dianne and Darrin Hawkes, who developed the subdivision, proposed the name Acacia Avenue. Local iwi preferred a Māori name, suggesting Waana Davis Place and Papakangahorohoro Road.
The Hawkes’ opposed Papakangahorohoro Road (the name is a nod to what the area is traditionally known as according to local iwi) claiming it was too long and impractical. Local iwi opposed Acacia Avenue saying the Acacia is not indigenous to New Zealand.
Despite iwi opposition and the council’s previous policy favouring Māori names, Whakatāne District Council approved Acacia Avenue this month. Three Māori councillors argued the name was not culturally significant and didn’t align with the council’s road naming policy.
The decision marks a shift from the council’s earlier stance, where it had rejected Acacia Avenue for not meeting the criteria.
