27 Mar 2010

East Auckland boards demand new name

5:21 pm on 27 March 2010

The Botany, Howick and Pakuranga Community Boards want a new name for the local board for East Auckland, saying Te Irirangi doesn't represent the area's identity.

The three boards and members of the public met on Friday night to discuss the name, which was chosen by the Local Government Commission.

The Manukau City councillor for Botany-Clevedon, Michael Williams, says eight people voted in favour of keeping the name Te Irirangi, and 340 opposed it.

He says the boards are urging the Local Government Commission to rename the board either Howick, Howick-Pakuranga, or Botany.

Mr Williams says Te Irirangi doesn't represent the area's heritage or identity.