• Numerous iwi groups put forward the proposal to change Petone’s name to Pito One. 
• Hutt City Council endorsed the move, saying it was important “correct names” were used to “protect and enhance the character and heritage” of Lower Hutt. 
• Pito One was how the suburb was known pre-colonisation, referencing the pā site on the foreshore - deemed one of the largest and best fortified in the region in the mid-1800s. 

The Lower Hutt suburb of Petone is keeping its name and will not be renamed Pito One. 

Land Information New Zealand (Linz) has confirmed the proposal to revert the spelling of the suburb to what it once was has been declined. 

Petone was originally known as Pito One due to the pā site on the foreshore - deemed one of the largest and best fortified in the region in the mid-1800s. It was renamed Petone when colonial settlers arrived. 

Hutt City Mayor Campbell Barry expressed his disappointment that the Land Information Minister had shut down the name-change proposal. 

“We believed that restoring the original name, Pito One, would honour the rich heritage of our area and strengthen our community’s connection to its history. 

“Despite the decision, we will continue to support moves that correct names that are incorrectly spelt – as we have done with this application made jointly by the Wellington Tenths Trust and Palmerston North Māori Reserves Trust,” he said. 

Barry said the council aims to seek clarification on what led to the minister’s decision. 

“We remain committed to engaging with our community and iwi partners to ensure that our place names reflect our shared history and cultural identity,” the mayor added. 

Pito One roughly translates to “end of sand beach”, referencing burying an umbilical cord, a pito, in the one, the sand, as a way to connect people to a place. 

The Geographic Board met in October to consider the idea, after the name-change proposal was endorsed by the Hutt City Council. 

A prior letter of support from Barry stated the application to revert the name to Pito One was “consistent with the objective of [the city council’s] naming policy to ensure we use correct names to protect and enhance the character and heritage of Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai [Lower Hutt]”. 

The council said one way it shows its “strong commitment” to mana whenua is by supporting its ability to make a name change proposal to the board. 

Deputy Mayor of Lower Hutt Tui Lewis, who represents the local area, previously told NZME the discussion around a potential name change was “long overdue”. 

After its October meeting, the Geographic Board referred the proposal to Land Information Minister Chris Penk, meaning he had final sign-off on the matter. 

At the time, board secretary Wendy Shaw indicated the minister was “very careful” when considering name change options deemed “controversial”. 

In other decisions released today, a proposal to change Auckland’s Takanini to Takaanini has been declined, and macrons will not be officially put in place for the Manawatu and Rangitikei districts. 

One of the proposals that has been approved is National Park Village being renamed Waimarino. 

“The name Waimarino is the original Māori name for the area and refers to calm waters pooling on the plains as they come down from the mountain,” Linz said in a statement. 

Azaria Howell is a Wellington-based multimedia reporter with an eye across the region. She joined NZME in 2022 and has a keen interest in city council decisions, public service agency reform and transport.