Revised plans to incorporate ‘Otumoetai' into the naming of a stretch of beach on Tauranga Harbour are going back out for public consultation after objections to name it Stokes Beach.

Public consultation is open again on the section of beach proposed to be named ‘Stokes Beach' by the New Zealand Geographic Board.

The New Zealand Geographic Board is putting out an amended version of its proposal to name the stretch on the northern shores of Otumoetai, east from Tilby Drive, to Stokes Beach after 32 of 35 submissions during the three month consultation objected to the name.

It was the board's initial intention to name the stretch of beach after local historian Dame Evelyn Stokes.

But most submissions preferred the original, but unofficial Maori name ‘Otumoetai Beach'.

NZGB staff want to honour and commemorate the significant work and contribution of Dame Evelyn – particularly for her work as a pre-eminent New Zealand geographer and writer of Maori history.

They believe Dame Evelyn had a very strong connection with Tauranga iwi, as well as having lived in this particular area of Tauranga.

Under the new proposal a section of beach directly in front of Beach Road would be named ‘Stokes Beach', and the area of beach in front of Otumoetai Pa, extending west to Tilby Drive, would be ‘Otumoetai Beach'.

A third easternmost section of the beach will remain unnamed – but a name could be proposed by the community in the future – and three other associated Otumoetai names are proposed for the Pa, the suburb and the sea channel.

'The Board has a statutory function to collect and encourage the use of original Maori names,” says New Zealand Geographic Board secretary Wendy Shaw.

'The Board – in consultation with Tauranga Moana kaumatua – has amended the proposal to reduce the extent of ‘Stokes Beach' and is consulting on another to assign ‘Otumoetai Beach' to the larger section of the beach to the west.”

Consultation is open until September 5, giving Tauranga residents full opportunity to provide their views and feedback on the proposals, says Wendy.

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