Ormondville Te Uri Road will officially become Waikopiro Road from Thursday 12 November 2026.

A historic road name is being restored in the Tararua District, with Ormondville Te Uri Road returning to its original name, Waikopiro Road.

After residents raised concerns about the road names, the change was approved by Tararua District Council to reduce confusion between Ormondville Te Uri Road and the adjoining Te Uri Road. Having a distinct road name will make it easier to identify properties and navigate the area for residents, visitors, delivery drivers, contractors and emergency services.

Returning to the original name

Historical records show that Waikopiro Road was the name originally used for the road from the late 1800s.

The reinstatement of the name is supported by Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua and Rangitāne o Tamaki-nui-ā-Rua, recognising the road’s original identity and the cultural and historical connections of the area.

Using the distinct name Waikopiro Road also aligns with the Australian/New Zealand Standard for Rural and Urban Addressing (AS/NZS 4819:2011), which requires road names to be distinguishable from existing road names and not be the same as, or similar in spelling or sound to, road names in the same or adjoining localities.

What happens from 12 November?

From Thursday 12 November:

• Waikopiro Road will be the official road name.
• Existing Ormondville Te Uri Road signs will be replaced.
• Waikopiro Road should be used for addresses, navigation, deliveries and service requests.

Council has coordinated the change with key organisations, including LINZ, NZ Post, emergency services and mapping providers, to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

If you encounter any issues relating to the road name change, contact Tararua District Council through the Antenno app, call 06 374 4080, or email propertynumbering@tararuadc.govt.nz.