My Account
Plans to name a new private subdivision at Te Arai after developer and golf course owner Ric Kayne’s three daughters have hit a stumbling block.
Rodney Local Board members voted to defer approval of the name Jemasa Lane – which comes from the first two letters of Mr Kayne’s daughters, Jenni, Maggie and Saree – after hearing no iwi consultation had been undertaken or, if it had, no evidence provided by Te Arai North Ltd.
Dairy Flat Board member Louise Johnston said that at a time when Council was looking at things like renaming parks with Maori names, developers needed to take the issue more seriously.
“It’s really important to have that iwi consultation and developers need to be a bit more proactive,” she said. “We need to be a bit tougher with developers to make sure they do consult.”
Vicki Kenny, who represents Kumeu, agreed.
“They should provide evidence such as a letter or email from iwi to say they don’t object. And that name is pretty lame in my opinion.”
Members voted to defer the decision to approve the road name Jemasa Lane until iwi consultation had been undertaken and their views reported back to the Board.
Auckland Council road naming guidelines include a preference for names that reflect historical or ancestral linkage to the area in question. The use of Maori names is also actively encouraged.
