Dunedin City councillors are sick of spending their time on a ''silly debate'' over street names.
The concern over the amount of time spent on the issue was raised during a debate at Tuesday's infrastructure services committee over whether a street in a subdivision should be called Kates [sic] Way.
In the end, developer Pat Cummings did not get his way, with councillors voting in favour of a staff recommendation to name the street Kew Place instead.
Mr Cummings argued naming the street Kates Way would recognise suffragist movement leader Kate Sheppard.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said it was pleasing the bylaw on street names was being reviewed, but the important thing was that future decisions be left to staff.
It was frustrating that such ''trivial'' matters had to be discussed at a standing committee meeting. .
Cr John Bezett also welcomed the review, saying he was sick of the ''silly debate'' that happened every time street naming was discussed.
The merits of the name Kates Way had prompted disagreement among councillors, some saying people would not make the connection to Kate Sheppard without the inclusion of a last name.
Crs Andrew Noone and and Mike Lord felt the street should be able to be named Kates Way.
At one point, committee chairwoman Kate Wilson joked she would have to remove herself from the debate.
Cr Neville Peat, who confessed to being a pedant, felt the lack of apostrophe would further contribute to a proliferation of poor punctation.
In the end the committee backed council staff who said that Kates Way did not fit within the council's naming policy, as Kate Sheppard did not have an association with the area.
