The Maniototo Community Board will meet for an extraordinary meeting tonight, Monday May 27, which could see the spelling of its ward altered.

Members will meet online at 7pm to discuss whether Maniototo should be changed to Māniatoto, a move that has been backed by Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki.

Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki is affiliated to two main hāpu groups of Kāi Tahu and are active participants in promoting the integrity of Kāi Tahu culture in the landscape.

Suzanne Ellison, who is Rūnaka manager, has written a letter on behalf of Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki to Central Otago District Council (CODC) governance manager Wayne McEnteer requesting the change be made

She said the Rūnaka has a long history of association with the Māniatoto area that predates the establishment of settler farms and the associated exclusion of ancestors from traditional places of occupation, Mahika kai gathering places as well as the trails that are used to connect coastal communities with their inland places of both permanent and seasonal settlement.

“After consultation with the Rūnaka Executive Committee, and on the advice of our te reo experts, I am able to advise you that our Rūnaka is wholeheartedly of the view that the spelling on Maniototo should be corrected wherever it is used.”

She urged the community board to “correct” the spelling for the ward to Māniatoto Ward as part of the Representation Review 2024.

“We acknowledge that for some people the change from the familiar will be unwelcome, however giving meaning back to the name through the spelling correction seems the sensible and correct thing to do. Once an error in spelling has been identified then it does seem beholden on decision makers to rectify the mistake.”

To listen to the meeting tune in via the CODC website.

Read more: Representation survey questions up for discussion