Alternative Maori place names for both the North and South Islands are being investigated by the New Zealand Geographic Board - the same organisation that ruled in favour of an 'h' in Wanganui.
North Island and South Island are not the most imaginative of names, but have served most of us well. But things are not always as they seem.
"The English names North and South Island are not official," says Don Grantz, chair of the NZ Geographic Board. "They had appeared in maps for a long time, but were not official."
The board wants to make them official, and while they are at it, the board is going to investigate adding official Maori names to the map.
Both islands already have commonly used Maori names. The South Island is known as Te Wai Pounamu, the place of greenstone, and the North Island is known as Te Ika A Maui, based on Maori legend that it was fished up by Maui, "with the head of the fish in Wellington, which is appropriate because that's where Government is, and the wings being Cape Egmont and the East Cape, and the tail being Northland," according to Maori academic Ranganui Walker.
As for Te Wai Pounamu, Mr Walker says both names reflect their Maori heritage and are more appealing than their English equivalents.
The tourism industry already uses the Maori names.
"We think it's a great idea," says Paul Yeo of the Travel Agents' Association. "In fact, it's already used in tourism marketing and promotion overseas. We see the Maori names as part of the reason people come to visit New Zealand."
But the Geographic Board may be buying itself a fight. After all, it put the h in Wanganui and the city's mayor Michael Laws says the board's latest move is all about being politically correct.
"I think it's stupid," says Mr Laws. "The point is, a place has a name. I don't know of any other place in the world where you go to and a place name has two different names."
3 News searched for groups that use North Island in their title. We talked to the North Island Minisprint Club whose spokesman said they have no intention of becoming Te Ika A Maui Mini Sprint Club."
The board plans to seek ideas from Maori for suitable names over the next few weeks. Everyone else gets their chance next year.
3 News