New Cromwell hall name confirmed
by Julie Asher · Otago Daily Times Online NewsTe Puna Mahara — Cromwell Memorial Events Centre is the name of the new $45 million civic building in Cromwell.
The Central Otago District Council last week voted 8-4 that the title would lead with the gifted te reo Māori name.
Councillors Stu Duncan, Cheryl Laws, Charlie Sanders and Bob Scott all voted against that decision.
Aukaha design lead Aroha Novak said the name given for the centre had been discussed and debated for a long time and was different from one proposed, but not disclosed, last year.
The English name was approved by all councillors except Stu Duncan, who wanted it to be called hall rather than events centre.
The building replaced the Cromwell Memorial Hall on that site and his great-uncle’s name was on the Cromwell cenotaph, he said.
While the English name was relatively quickly agreed to, the debate over which name would go first was protracted.
Cr Scott said when he read all the submissions on selecting a name, only 23 of more than 600 suggested the Māori go first.
"I think we have to acknowledge the fact that there’s not really a great appetite for the Māori name to come first, just from the feedback that we’ve received from the community."
Cr Sanders said he understood a te reo Māori name was only required for open spaces.
Mayor Tamah Alley said the council had asked for a gifted name for the new building and it was tied to the open spaces policy.
Cr Laws asked if it would be rude not to use the gifted name first.
The decision was the council’s, Ms Novak said.
"It’s not impolite, but it is also up to your community and I suppose what it can do is devalue the name ... by putting it second.
"But it is also your prerogative and your community to decide what order it goes in," Ms Novak said.
Cr Duncan said he wondered if there was an appetite, in Central Otago, particularly in rural areas, for using te reo.
Ms Novak said, in her opinion, it was an opportunity to open up a conversation around what te reo naming looked like within Central Otago.
"It would be a bold and brave move for you guys to put that first and champion it, and I guess stick behind it."
Crs Sarah Browne and Andrew Dowling both said they were keen to be bold and brave.
Cr Curtis Pannett said commercial success was important for the future of the events centre.
Te Puna was a strong name and rolled off the tongue easily, he said.
The Cromwell museum and exhibition space, which would be inside the building would be known as Te Huika Wai.