It's been recommended that Poverty Bay be given a dual name: Tūranganui-a-Kiwa / Poverty Bay.
A view over Poverty Bay, or Tūranganui-a-Kiwa, from Kaiti Hill lookout in Gisborne. Photo: Wikimedia commons
The New Zealand Geographic Board has confirmed the proposal and said 609 submissions were received, with a quarter clearly supporting the dual name.
A quarter wanted the name to remain as is, Poverty Bay, while another quarter preferred Tūranganui-a-Kiwa.
Acting board chair Anselm Haanen said the dual name was the best way to reflect the heritage of both names.
Captain James Cook named Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Poverty Bay when he landed in 1769 and could not resupply his ship.
Mr Haanen said Tūranganui-a-Kiwa means the great or long standing place of Kiwa.
It's a name that has been documented since about 1830, but was used in oral tradition before then, he said.
Gisborne councillor Meredith Akuhata-Brown said it was a bittersweet decision and would still prefer just the Māori version.
"Our bay is trying to grow economically, socially and everything and we have this horrendeous name that we statistically live up to - so names are powerful and I think that if we want to be a proud region we would stay with just Tūranganui-a-Kiwa," she said.
Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon supported both names saying the decision would please locals.
The board will prepare a report for Land Information Minister Eugenie Sage, who will make the final decision.