Report for Altered Names: Hodges Creek (NZGB suggests Stream) (spelling alteration from ) Tributary of Leslie River, Wharerapa / Arthur Range, Kahurangi National Park Hodges Creek (spelling alteration from ) Tributary of Flora Stream, Wharerapa / Arthur Range, Kahurangi National Park MAPS/INSETS (from 28 March 2013) 29 April 2015 Page 1 of 6
SUMMARY The proposer is seeking to alter the spelling of two separate streams within Kahurangi National Park, from to Hodges Creek. The two streams are located in the same general vicinity in Wharepapa / Arthur Range, approximately 12km apart one being a tributary of Leslie River, the other a tributary of Flora Stream. Two other streams named are located in the Karamea Forest and Radiant Range approximately 35km and 50km south-west of the proposals. Another stream named is located just north of Arthur s Pass. To reduce the risk of confusion, the generic for the larger Hodges Creek could be altered to Hodges Stream. In November 2004 the Board considered and declined a proposal from the same proposer to alter the name from to Hodges Creek for the stream that is a tributary of Leslie River. The previous proposal was declined because the proposer s evidence provided insufficient proof that the stream was named after the Hodges brothers. With this latest proposal the proposer has provided substantial documentary evidence to verify the spelling of Hodges, and to associate the Hodges brothers to both features. An alteration to the spelling is unlikely to affect emergency services. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has advised that it has no objection to the proposals. SECRETARIAT RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendation 1 Accept the proposal to alter to Hodges Stream (for the tributary of Leslie River, Wharerapa / Arthur Range, Kahurangi National Park), based on the correct spelling and the need to change the generic geographic descriptor to minimise duplication confusion with Hodges Creek nearby. AND Recommendation 2 Accept the proposal to alter to Hodges Creek (for the tributary of Flora Stream, Wharerapa / Arthur Range, Kahurangi National Park), based on the correct spelling. AND Recommendation 3 Notify as two separate proposals, Hodges Stream and Hodges Creek to alter for a period of one month in terms of s.16 of the NZGB Act 2008. AND Recommendation 4 Note that if Hodges Stream and Hodges Creek become official geographic names, then consideration should be given to recommending new entries be added to the online Dictionary for New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). 29 April 2015 Page 2 of 6
SECRETARIAT ANALYSIS The Proposal The proposer is seeking to alter the spelling of two streams located within Kahurangi National Park, one of which is a tributary of Leslie River, the other a tributary of Flora Stream, from to Hodges Creek. The two streams are approximately 12kms apart. The proposer has provided documentary evidence that the features were named after two brothers, William James Macfarlane Hodges (1850-1930) and Sydney Benjamin Hodges (c. 1854-1939), who dug for gold in the Mount Arthur Tableland area and were well known farmers and residents of the Pokororo/Graham River/Ngatimoti district between the 1890s and early 1900s. The proposer has previously made a proposal to alter the name of the stream that is tributary of Leslie River from to Hodges Creek. In November 2004, the Board considered and declined this proposal because the proposer s evidence did not provide enough proof that the stream was named after the Hodges brothers. The proposer has now provided further documentary evidence, which he states supports altering the spelling from to Hodges Creek, for not only the stream that is a tributary of Leslie River, but also the stream that is a tributary of Flora Stream. Historical Maps For both features the name has been used for over half a century. There is no evidence on maps or plans of either feature having been named Hodges Creek. Cadastral and Topographic maps have shown the following through the years: 1 st edition, dated 1950 Hodge Ck NZMS 13, NEL17 NZMS 13, NEL12A,13A,17, 18 1 st edition, dated 1953 3 rd edition, dated 1954 Hodge Ck (both features) Hodge Ck (both features) 2 nd edition, dated 1963 3 rd edition, dated 1970 NZMS 177, S13 2 nd edition, dated 1972 Hodge Ck Hodge Ck Not named 4 th edition, dated 1974 5 th edition, dated 1981 (both features) (both features) Historical Survey Plans Early survey plans show the following: SO 1739 Dated 1869 Neither feature named 29 April 2015 Page 3 of 6
SO 116 Dated 1876 Neither feature named SO 2759 Dated 1881 Neither feature named SO 5467 Dated 1898 Neither feature named SO 6852 Not dated Neither feature named SO 6879 Not dated Neither feature named SO 5479 Dated 1922 Neither feature named Miscellaneous Historical Plans Early miscellaneous plans show the following: GAZ186 Not dated Neither feature named GAZ110 Not dated Neither feature named GAZ167 1885 Neither feature named Location/Extent of Feature The first proposal is a stream that is a tributary of Leslie River. It flows generally south for approximately 10km from its source on the eastern side of Kakapo Spur into Leslie River, approximately 2km northnortheast of Leslie River s confluence with Karamea River. The second proposal is a stream that is a tributary of Flora Stream. It flows north north-east for approximately 2km to its confluence with Flora Stream. Both features are within Kahurangi National Park, which is used extensively for recreational purposes. Generic Feature Whittow 1 describes a Creek as, a tidal channel in a coastal marsh or between estuarine mud-banks. In New Zealand the generic feature type Creek can also describe any type of small stream. New Zealand Gazetteer Neither of the two features has been gazetted as official through the NZGB Act, but they are classified as recorded names. Duplication Tributary of Little Wanganui River (approx. 35 km south-west) Mount Hodges North-east of Seddonville Arthur s Pass National Park Fiordland National Park Two features named to the south-west may possibly be associative; however, they are some distance from the proposals. The Hodges brothers appear to be well commemorated in the northwest Nelson area, and it seems reasonable to correct the spelling of their names for these two proposals and perhaps the other two Hodge 1 Whittow, J. (1984). The Penguin Dictionary of Physical Geography. Auckland: Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd. 29 April 2015 Page 4 of 6
Creeks to the south-west. Associative Names, which is a tributary of the Little Wanganui River, approximately 35kms south-west of the current proposals may be associative. Research/History/ References The proposer has provided substantial documentary evidence of reference sources to verify the spelling of Hodges, and to associate the Hodges brothers to the streams, including excerpts from Brereton 2, Cyclopaedia Company Limited 3 and Newport 4. The proposer advises that based on evidence from Brereton (ibid.) it was undoubtedly William and Sydney Hodges who gave their name to the Hodges Creek in the Leslie and the small creek with the bridge about a quarter of a mile on the Flora side from the Cobb junction. With the previous proposal made by the proposer to alter the spelling from Hodge Creek to Hodges Creek, the Board had noted that much of the documentary evidence provided was based on No Roll of Drums by Brereton (ibid.). There in no entry in Reed 5 for or Hodges Creek. The Board s archives record the Board s previous consideration of the proposal to alter the spelling of the name of the stream that is a tributary of Leslie River. Correspondence from 1994 indicates that a different near Seddonville was named after William Hodges (50kms south-west of the proposals). Consultation with iwi and others Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has advised that it does not oppose these proposals. NZGB Act 2008 The Board has a responsibility to examine cases of doubtful spelling in accordance with Section 15(1)(b) of the NZGB Act 2008. Section 10(1)(c) records that a principal function of the Board is to alter an official geographic name or recorded name by substituting another name or correcting the spelling of the name. Policy from Frameworks version 6 Name Alterations: Where an alteration to a name is proposed, the Board will consider that proposal on its merits. The Board shall not generally alter a name, for example by correcting its spelling, if the incorrect form is in general public use and the alteration may affect a community. However, other criteria and legislative considerations may outweigh this policy. Spelling Standards: A name that has been in long-term local usage may take precedence over any proposal to alter the spelling. Emergency Services Changing both features from to Hodges Stream and Hodges Creek is unlikely to cause confusion for emergency services as 2 Brereton, C.B. (1947). No Roll of Drums. Wellington: AH & AW Reed. 3 Cyclopedia Company Limited. (1906). The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts]. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited. 4 Newport, J.N.W. (1978). Footprints too: further glimpses into the history of Nelson Province. Blenheim: Express Printing Works. 5 Reed, A.W. (2010). Place Names of New Zealand. (rev. P Dowling). North Shore: Penguin Books (NZ). 29 April 2015 Page 5 of 6
there is little phonological distinction in many English dialects between the current and proposed names. It may also be of benefit to emergency services to distinguish the two streams from the Hodge Creek that is a tributary of the Little Wanganui River, and the Hodge Creek north-east of Seddonville. Media There is unlikely to be any media interest. New Zealand Sign Language Dictionary There is no standardised New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) sign for Hodges Creek or Stream, just River in the online Dictionary. Both the official language NZSL and New Zealand s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) provide a basis for the NZGB to recognise the existence and importance of geographic names as they are expressed in NZSL. Consideration may be given by the NZGB to recommending that Hodges Stream and Hodges Creek be added to the online Dictionary if it becomes official. SUPPORTING INFORMATION 1. Proposal 2011-05-20 2. Email from and to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu re consultation 2012-10-18 29 April 2015 Page 6 of 6