The public is being invited to have its say on restoring the Bay of Islands town Russell to its original Maori name - Kororareka

The proposal put forward by mana whenua, has been accepted for consultation by the Geographic Board.

Public meetings will be held at Kororareka Marae, on the Russell waterfront on Tuesday and submissions will close on April 18.

Russell is currently named after the former leader of the British House of Commons, Lord John Russell.

Far North Mayor Moko Tepania says Kororareka comes with mana, tradition and cultural understanding.

He says it makes more sense than the name of a man who never stepped foot in New Zealand - but it will go through the proper processes.