A family is petitioning for naming rights to the road that will go through their privately owned land connecting to the Tauranga Eastern Link.

Frank and Cecilia James standing where the new road will pass through their family land. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

Frank and Cecilia James are the original owners of the land sold to create the road, and also own the land on either side. The couple say input in naming the new road was part of original land sale negotiations.

They wish to name the road – the extension of Sandhurst Drive through to the Mangatawa Interchange – James Drive, or failing that, Faulkner Drive or Coastlands Drive.

But Tauranga City Council is refusing the request - opting to make it a continuation of Sandhurst Drive. This week Frank and Cecilia's son Richard addressed the council's Community Development Committee saying his parents' request has been 'improperly refused”.

He says the road is a new road, not an existing road being renamed, and deserves a topical name relating to its past and future.

'A verbal agreement was made to suggest we could have the naming of this portion,” says Richard. 'Sadly for us it wasn't written into the documented agreement and the powers that be have indicated this option has been rescinded under Health and Safety.”

Growing up on the land, Richard says their neighbours were the Gravatts, the Dicksons, the Evans, Simpsons, Thompsons, and Taylors – and all have roads named after them.

James Drive is easily spelt, pronounced and remembered in line with council policy – and is different from James Cook Drive to not confuse to people or emergency services, he says.

TCC's naming policy is to give preference to names that reflect the identity of Tauranga, the historical significance of the area, the Maori and cultural influence, and people important to the area's history.

Sandhurst Drive fails those principles, say Richard.

'If glorifying a military school in the UK reflects local identity, I am puzzled. I would suggest it is actually perfect for offending the sensibilities of local Maori considering the history of Tauranga and the British militia's role in Gate Pa and Te Ranga.”

There will be a roundabout between the current Sandhurst Drive and the new road, creating a clear delineation. Richard argues there are many examples around Tauranga of differently named roads that lead into one another, such as Maranui St/ Papamoa Beach Road, Marine Parade/Ocean Beach Road, and Gravatt Road/Gloucester Road.