The New Zealand geographic society, the body charged with gazetting place names, have stumbled upon an interesting fact – North and South Island were never officially named.

The board said it was going to consult Maori and then put suggestions forward for the public to decide on in 2010.

Present Maori names are Te Ika a Maui or “the fish of Maui” for the North Island and
Te Wai Pounamu or “place of greenstone” after the South Island’s outcrops of jade.