The New Zealand Geographic Board is now accepting public submissions on 27 proposals to assign new place names or alter existing place names, including formalising The Catlins, and putting the "h" in Wanganui.
The 27 proposals - accepted at the board's March meeting - opened for public consultation yesterday.
A proposal to alter the spelling of Wanganui to Whanganui is expected to overshadow other decisions, with Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws an outspoken critic of the move.
Two proposals are being considered from the Southland-Otago area - a move to formalise the name The Catlins, and to change the spelling of Mt Aitken, in southwest Southland, to Mt Aitkin.
Board secretary Wendy Shaw told the Otago Daily Times last month locals had referred to the area as The Catlins since the 1840s - but the name was not official.
The official boundary of The Catlins would also be defined.
Submissions on The Catlins and Wanganui/Whanganui close on August 17, and Mt Aitken on June 19.
Other proposals to be considered include: assigning the new name Grafton Railway Station to a relocated Auckland railway station and assigning new names to two man-made lakes in Canterbury.
