We're proposing to update the rules for naming Palmerston North's streets, public places and Council facilities. We'd like to know what you think.
Names help tell the story of our city. They can reflect our history, culture, people and places, so it's important we have a clear and consistent way of choosing them.
At the moment, the rules for naming different types of places are spread across three old policies, which haven't been reviewed for a long time. We're proposing to replace these with two updated policies: one for naming roads, open spaces, suburbs and Council facilities, and another for naming rights.
Make a submission on naming policies
Read the consultation document
The consultation document explains the proposed changes in more detail, including why we're making them, and contains both draft policies.
Read the proposed Naming and Naming Rights Policies consultation document(PDF, 8MB)
Making the way we name places more consistent
The proposed new Naming Policy aims to clarify what kinds of names can be used for roads, open spaces, suburbs and Council facilities.
Names would need a clear connection to the local area and fit at least one of the policy's categories. These include te reo Māori, local history, community purpose or contribution, natural features, established themes, and the city's cultural and social diversity.
It would also involve Rangitāne o Manawatū earlier in relevant naming processes and give priority to names gifted for sites that are significant to iwi.
The main changes proposed for the Naming Policy are:
- Bringing road, open space, Council facility and suburb naming together under one policy.
- Making the naming criteria clearer, with names needing a local connection.
- Expanding the criteria to better reflect the city's cultural and social diversity.
- Not allowing permanent naming after businesses that are still operating.
- Restricting permanent naming after living people, unless Council approves an exception.
- Involving Rangitāne earlier in naming decisions and giving priority to names gifted by Rangitāne o Manawatū for sites of significance to iwi.
- Making sure major city landmarks have strong connections to Palmerston North as a whole.
- Allowing other places to be named in ways that reflect their purpose, history or location.
A clearer approach to naming rights
Naming rights are a little different. These are arrangements where an organisation, business or donor is recognised in the name of a Council facility. Because these public names often become the city's identity, we want the rules around them to both create opportunities and protect the character of our public facilities.
We're proposing to expand naming rights beyond recreational facilities, to include cultural and venue facilities, and to allow philanthropic partnerships as well as commercial ones. The updated policy would also make it clearer who makes naming decisions and which organisations Council would not enter naming rights partnerships with.
The main changes proposed for the Naming Rights Policy are:
- Replacing the current policy with clearer, more up-to-date guidance.
- Making it clearer who can approve naming rights for Council-owned facilities managed by other organisations.
- Expanding naming rights to include cultural and venue facilities.
- Allowing philanthropic naming partnerships as well as commercial ones.
- Not allowing naming rights partnerships with alcohol, tobacco, vaping or weapons businesses, or political or religious organisations.
Make a submission
We'd like to know what you think about the proposed changes.
Do the naming criteria feel right? Is there anything else we should consider when naming public places? And have we got the balance right when it comes to naming rights?
Your feedback will help us shape the final policies. Tell us what you think by Tuesday 8 December 2026. You can also indicate in the form if you'd like to speak to your submission at the planned hearing in March 2027.
Click here to view form.