Recently there have been more stupid proposals to change street names throughout NZ. This is our most recent experience of the typical confusion it causes. This is not the first and it will not be the last.

This motel has three street frontages to Taupahi Road, SH1 and between them Piri Road which was
“Link” Road for the previous fifty years. Then in 2013 the Council changed it. No warnings or consultation. The new name was Piri Road. Eight years later this change still results in confusion and misdirection. TRM still gets tourists looking for Link Road as that is still on their travel documentation or maps.

Last week three engineers booked in for two nights to complete maintenance work on the swing bridge over the Tongariro River. They came from different regions and their firm had arranged for the specialist fittings they needed to be sent by freight to Tongariro River Motel. After two days the fittings had not arrived. Eventually, their firm tracked them down to discover they had been sent to: Tongariro River Motel, 2 Link Road, Turangi – instead of 2 Piri Road. The courier could not find Link Road so nothing arrived. After eight years the previous Link Road name still haunts the internet searches and older maps and misdirects everyone including tourists.

So as a result of the Council changing the sign eight years ago, they wasted three days waiting. Now, once they have tracked down the missing fittings, they have to return again to still complete the maintenance programme. What a waste of time and expenses for everyone!