Gisborne District councillors have voted 13 to 1 to rename Poverty Bay to also include its Māori name Tūranganui a Kiwa.

Photo: Wikimedia commons

Specifically, the council was voting yesterday on whether to submit a name change - to Tūranganui a Kiwa/Poverty Bay - to the New Zealand Geographic Board.

The joint Māori and English name is intended to reflect the area's shared history.

Mayor Meng Foon said the name change was timely ahead of the sestercentennial - or 250 year - anniversary of the first formal meetings between Māori and Europeans of the coast of Tairāwhiti next year.

"It is a time for reconciliation as well, so it's appropriate and honorable to state the Māori name of Tūranganui a Kiwa."

Mr Foon accepted there was some resistance to the move, including from councillor Malcolm McClean.

"There's always resistance to any move. I have problems choosing what I'm going to have for dinner with my wife," he said.

"It's a balance, we haven't cut anything out, but we've actually acknowledged the rangatiratanga of the iwi."