The Dunedin City Council turned down a request for a street off Riccarton Rd East to be named Wakefield Wynd yesterday, although it was the wynd part of the name that caused most concern.
Developer AKGO Ltd planned to name the street, a cul-de-sac with a turning circle at one end, after Edward Gibbon Wakefield, who set up the New Zealand Company, to organise settlement in New Zealand.
That concerned at least two councillors, including Cr Marie Laufiso.
Cr Laufiso questioned the idea, as Wakefield came up with his ideas on colonisation while in prison for the 1826 abduction of 15-year-old schoolgirl.
Wakefield wanted the girl as his wife so her father would be obliged to help him enter political life.
A report on the issue recommended the name not be approved.
It noted while Wakefield was appropriate under the council's road name policy as "use of a personal name for special service'', wynd was not.
Wynd appeared to have been used only once in New Zealand, despite being common in Scotland and Northern England, where it means a narrow lane or alley.
There were also concerns the unusual name would be confusing for emergency services, and for the public, which could be confused about its meaning, pronunciation and spelling.
The report said the names "close'', "place, "road'' or "way'' would be more appropriate.
AKGO counsel Amin Osama spoke at a public forum before yesterday's infrastructure services and networks committee meeting.
He said contrary to what the report said, the name "wynd'' fitted the sort of smaller street it would be.
There were plenty of other names, including Maori names, that some struggled to pronounce or spell.
"This has not stopped them being used.''
Police had told him the name should not cause any problems, as had other emergency services.
Mr Osama said his client had spent "a significant amount of time and effort'' on the application.
"It would be a disservice to our client, and other members of the public, if they are refused applications despite complying with council policy.''
During debate, Mayor Dave Cull moved Wakefield Wynd be approved.
"The question I ask is, if it is named Wakefield Wynd, who is harmed? What damage is done?
Cr Laufiso said: "I have no problem with wynd, but I do have a problem with Wakefield.''
Cr Lee Vandervis, taking part in the meeting by audio link from overseas, said wynd would be a source of confusion, as it was a word most would never have come across.
Cr Christine Garey was concerned people would not know how to pronounce it.
Mr Cull's motion was put to the vote, but did not win the support of councillors.
Cr Mike Lord moved the street should be called Wakefield Way, but that, too, could not get the numbers.
Cr David Benson-Pope moved the committee ask the developer for more naming options, which the meeting voted to do.
Later in the meeting, the committee voted for an amendment to the road naming policy.
The amendment included a list of possible names from "alley'' to "mews'' to "walk'' and "way'' for various types of thoroughfare.
Wynd was not included on the list.
