Report on proposal for: Willis Peak [commonly known name]

MAP1

NZTopo50-BW20 Crown Copyright reserved

Source: Gazetteer

SUMMARY

The proposer is seeking to assign Willis Peak to an unnamed peak at 1962m, located at the southern end of Craigieburn Range above Porters2 ski field, approximately 85km northwest of . The proposer wishes to name the feature after his father, Paul Hedley Willis (1941-2011), who he advises made a significant contribution to the development of Porters ski field and recreational skiing facilities in the Craigieburn Range. There appears to be sufficient justification under the NZGB’s personal naming criteria to warrant assigning Willis Peak, because there is evidence of Paul Willis’ strong association with, and relationship to, the area. Naming the feature Willis Peak would also ensure enduring recognition of Paul Willis’ achievement of being awarded the rare of honour of Norwegian Consul in 1990, following his airlift of a badly injured explorer in Antarctica. The feature is within Porters ski field, which has high recreational and public use, and where there have been a number of accidents, including a death in 2009. Assigning an official name to the feature may assist

1 Land Information New Zealand 2 Originally functioning as a club ski field, Porters is now a commercial

NZGB meeting 16 October 2017 Page 1 of 6 Linzone ID A2966420 emergency services in the event of accidents. Willis Peak is shown on the Porters ski field trail map, which is also reproduced on other websites related to skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand. The other named features within the ski field are Blue Hill (recorded name) and McNulty Basin (official name). The local community association, the Department of Conservation (DOC), and the commercial operator of the ski field support the proposal. To date Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has not advised of an original Māori name for the feature, despite the proposer attempting to seek mana whenua views.

NZGB meeting 16 October 2017 Page 2 of 6 Linzone ID A2966420 SECRETARIAT RECOMMENDATION

Recommendation 1 Accept the proposal to assign Willis Peak to an unnamed peak at 1962m, located at the southern end of Craigieburn Range above Porters ski field, in inland mid-Canterbury, based on: - recognition of Paul Willis’ achievements; his strong association with, and relationship to, the area; and his significant contribution to the development of recreational skiing facilities in the area, - the feature being commonly known in the skiing and snowboarding community as Willis Peak, - assigning an official name assisting emergency services in the event of accidents within the ski field area, and - the local community association, DOC, and the commercial operator of the ski field supporting the proposal. Noting that Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has not advised of a traditional/original Māori name for the feature. and Notify as a proposal to assign for a period of three months in terms of Section 16 of the NZGB Act 2008.

SECRETARIAT ANALYSIS

The proposal The proposer is seeking to assign Willis Peak to an unnamed peak at 1962m, located at the southern end of Craigieburn Range above Porters ski field, in inland mid-Canterbury. The proposer wishes to name the peak after his father, Paul Hedley Willis (1941-2011), who he advises established, and made a significant contribution to, the development of Porter Heights club ski field and recreational skiing facilities in the Craigieburn Range. The proposer advises that Paul Willis and his extended family have a strong association with Craigieburn Valley and the Porters ski area, with the family being among the original settlers in the area. The proposer has provided the obituary for Paul Willis, which records his strong association with many community based organisations in Canterbury, his contribution to establishing Porter Heights ski field, and that he represented New Zealand in skiing in 1962. The obituary also notes that Paul Willis was appointed Norwegian Consul to New Zealand in 1990 following his airlift of a badly injured explorer in Antarctica.

Names for the There is no evidence of the feature being named on plans and maps. feature shown on maps and plans Plan/map Date Name C(D)38 1858 Not depicted C(D)42 1873 Not depicted SO 113 Not dated Not named SO 3086 1886 Not named NZMS 1, S74, 1st, 2nd, 3rd eds. 1944, 1957, 1962 Not depicted NZMS 177, S74, 1st edition 1961 Not depicted SO 11174 1968 Not named NZMS 1, S74, 4th, 5th, 6th, eds. 1970, 1980, 1986 Not named

NZGB meeting 16 October 2017 Page 3 of 6 Linzone ID A2966420 Topographic Map 260-K35 1989, 1998 Not named NZTopo50-BW20, edition 1.04 2017 Not named

Location and The feature is the peak of the mountain at 1962m, located at the top of the extent of the westernmost on Porters ski field, at the southern end of Craigieburn feature Range, approximately 85km northwest of Christchurch.

Generic term and ‘Peak’ is an appropriate generic term for the feature, which the NZGB’s geographic feature Generic Geographic Features Listing defines as ‘the pointed top or summit type of a mountain’. The nearest named features are Blue Hill at 1946m and McNulty Basin. Other prominent elevations along Craigieburn Range have the generic term ‘Mount’, for example, Mount Enys, Mount Cloudsley, Mount Izard and . There is also Baldy Hill, Hamilton Peak and Nervous Knob. The NZGB may prefer ‘Mount’ as the generic term. However, naming the feature Willis Peak would distinguish it from Mount Willis in Antarctica.

New Zealand Willis Peak is not recorded in the Gazetteer for any other feature, and the Gazetteer, peak is not named in the Gazetteer. associated names and duplication There is no record of who Willis Creek, approximately 12km southeast of Reefton, is named after. Mount Willis in Antarctica is named after Lt. Cdr. CH Willis of the United States Navy. Willis Glacier, also in Antarctica, was named after a geophysicist, Mr IAG Willis.

Research, history Originally a club ski field, ‘Porters’ is now a commercial ski resort3. and references to 4 the feature Willis Peak is named on Porters ski field trail map , which is reproduced on other websites related to skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand. Over the years the media has reported skiing accidents at Porters ski field5 including the death of an Australian doctor in 20096.

Consultation with The feature is within Porter Heights Conservation Area, which is a DOC iwi and others stewardship area. The proposer has provided a letter of support from a DOC Senior Ranger, who advises that DOC recognises the input of the Willis family into conservation and recreational development in the area. The proposer has also provided letters of support for the proposal from: - the General Manager of Porters Ski Area, and - Castle Hill Community Association, which notes that is the closest urban settlement to the ski field, and that Castle Hill Community Association’s Town Committee has unanimously passed a resolution supporting the proposal. The proposer has provided evidence of consultation with Te Ngāi Tū Ahuriri Rūnanga and Professor Te Maire Tau, who previously served on the NZGB as the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (TRONT) member. The Secretariat has also liaised directly with TRONT, who has not responded to date.

3 Porters. Accessed 27 July 2017. 4 Accessed 27 July 2017 from www.skiporters.co.nz/mountain-information/trails-and-lifts 5 Westpac Rescue chopper airlifts two skiers to Christchurch Hospital, 27 August 2016. Accessed 27 July 2017. 6 Australian doctor killed in skiing accident, 10 September 2009. Accessed 27 July 2017.

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Relevant sections A principal function of the NZGB under s.10(1)(a) is to assign official from the NZGB Act geographic names. Section 15(2)(b) states that a proposal must meet the 2008 requirements specified by the Board. The proposal has met the NZGB’s Minimum Requirements.

Relevant principles Names for previously unnamed features or places: [abridged] As the and guidelines steward and custodian (kaitiaki) of the nation’s set of official geographic from the NZGB’s names, the Board should avoid over-naming. When considering assigning a Frameworks v.8 name to a previously unnamed geographic feature or place, priority may be given to original Māori names of the feature or area. To date TRONT has not advised of an original Māori name for the feature. A number of prominent peaks along Craigieburn Range remain unnamed. Mountain Names: In the case of new names for unnamed mountains and other alpine features, mountaineers, explorers or guides first climbing, traversing or discovering such features shall generally have the right to submit names for the approval of the Board, subject to the Board’s other legislative and policy framework requirements. The Secretariat has found no record of who discovered the feature. Using personal names: Personal names may apply to geographic features and places where the name is in the public interest. The person commemorated should have contributed significantly to, or have a strong association with, the area where the feature is located. The proposer advises that the Willis family have ancestral links to the area, and there is evidence of Paul Willis’ significant connection with, and relationship to the area. He had a strong association with many community organisations in Canterbury, and made a significant contribution to the establishment and development of Porters ski field, where the feature is located. Mr Willis’ obituary notes that his appointment as the Norwegian Consul is a rare honour, and records that his ‘life of personal achievement, voluntary work, and sporting and business success is noteworthy’7.

Concerns or issues The proposer has not provided evidence of consultation with emergency for emergency services. However, assigning an official name to the feature would assist services emergency services in the event of accidents within the ski field area.

Media The proposal may generate some media interest because of high recreational use in the area.

Online Dictionary NZSL is an official language of New Zealand. Under the United Nations of New Zealand Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) the NZGB is Sign Language obliged to recognise the existence and importance of geographic names in NZSL. The standardised New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) sign for ‘Peak’ in the online Dictionary is:

7 Willis had self-discipline, drive and heart. The Press, Christchurch. 28 May 2011. Accessed 27 July 2017.

NZGB meeting 16 October 2017 Page 5 of 6 Linzone ID A2966420 The NZGB may consider recommending that if Willis Peak becomes an official name that it be added to the NZSL Dictionary.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

1. Proposal – 10 May 2017 2. Consultation email to TRONT – 6 July 2017

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