by Apihaka Mack
Some person changed the name of Ngatiawa River to Waikanae River on Google Maps. Are the residents and Ngatiawa River Monastery aware of this? Did KCDC, DOC or NZTA rename the river without consultation with Ngatiawa tanga whenua of the River and local Residents? Or has someone, with no local history knowledge, made a personal decision. An answer we will seek from the government.
I was raised in Waikanae from 1939 as with a lot of family, sisters Brothers Grandparents Uncles Aunties and numerous cousins. I have always known the river as Waikanae river Never ever heard it referred to as Ngātiawa River. Way before KCDC Waikanae was under the Horowhenua district and definitely Google or internet or anything else like that was invented
Apihaka Mack may be referring to an upper section of it rather than the whole river.