Fiordland Mountain Officially Named Mount Kirk to Honour Lake Manapouri Legacy

On Tuesday, 18 August 2026, Minister for Land Information Hon Mike Butterick confirmed that a mountain in Fiordland National Park has been officially named Mount Kirk. The 1,436-metre peak, previously unnamed, is located on the western side of Percy Saddle, south of the West Arm of Lake Manapouri. The naming honours the late Rt Hon Norman Kirk, a former Prime Minister whose leadership is remembered for its lasting impact on Aotearoa New Zealand. According to a statement from the Beehive, the decision follows a proposal by two surviving members of the Guardians of Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau. The proposal highlights Mr Kirk’s pivotal support for environmental preservation during the Save Manapouri campaign of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The campaign arose to prevent plans to raise lake levels for hydroelectric power, which would have significantly altered the natural landscape. Minister Butterick noted that the official name was assigned by Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board. He remarked that naming the mountain after Mr Kirk is a fitting tribute to his commitment to public service and his decision to honour commitments to preserve the lakes after the 1972 general election. In 1973, Mr Kirk established the Guardians to provide independent oversight of the lakes’ management, ensuring their natural levels remained intact. “Fifty years on from his death in office, it is fitting that his legacy is reflected in an enduring feature of the New Zealand landscape,” Minister Butterick said. The name Mount Kirk is now recorded in the New Zealand Gazetteer, permanently linking the former Prime Minister’s conservation legacy to the Fiordland region.