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We’re calling on the Representation Committee to restore the Māori place names for our Pōneke electorates.
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The Representation Commission announced on Friday 8 August that the reo Māori names of two Wellington electorates, Rongotai and Ōhāriu will be gone from the election in 2026. 

Rongotai is being renamed “Wellington Bays” and Ōhāriu will be split between the new “Wellington North” and “Kenepuru” electorates. 

Ultimately, these naming decisions were made following a limited public consultation, with only five people submitting on the name changes. Only two people supported changing the name of Wellington Central, and only three people supported erasing the name of Rongotai, with just one submission suggesting Wellington Bays. 

Cultural visibility is one of the most important aspects of language revitalisation. Some say that “The namer of things is the claimer of things”. There were no specific submissions on the name changes from Te Reo Māori experts or mana whenua. 

It appears that there were no Māori involved in making these decisions for general electorates. Half of all Māori are on the General Roll so these decisions impact Māori. 

We are concerned that Wellington Mayoral Candidate Andrew Little, who is on the Representation Commission, didn’t have the foresight to ensure the Commission engaged with local representatives on this issue, and hope that this isn’t indicative of his approach to local governance.

We call on the Representation Committee to reverse these decisions, and take seriously the wishes of the communities of Te Whanganui a Tara on the names of their electorates.



Petition by:

Tamatha Paul - Wellington Central MP

Julie Anne Genter - Rongotai MP

Tory Whanau - Mayor of Wellington