Te Puna Mahara — Cromwell Memorial Events Centre is the name of the new $45 million civic building in Cromwell. The Central Otago District Council last week voted 8-4 that the title would lead with the gifted te reo Māori name. Councillors Stu Duncan, Cheryl Laws, Charlie Sanders and Bob Scott all voted against that decision. Aukaha design lead Aroha Novak said the name given for the centre had been discussed and debated for a long time and was different from one proposed, but not disclosed, last year. The English name was approved by all councillors except Stu Duncan, who wanted it to be called hall rather than events centre. The building replaced the Cromwell Memorial Hall on that site and his great-uncle’s name was on the Cromwell cenotaph, he said. While the English name was relatively quickly agreed to, the debate over which name would go first was protracted. Cr Scott said when he read all the submissions on selecting a name, only 23 of more than 600 suggested the Māori go first.…