Canterbury Regional Council commissioners are expected to formalise a deal on Thursday to use dual Maori and English names for places in the council's territory.
Commissioner Donald Couch says the change to official documents was foreshadowed in Ngai Tahu's treaty settlement, but had not been actioned.
The former Ngai Tahu Runanga deputy chair was disappointed when he was appointed to the council three months ago to find the council itself did not have a Maori name.
He says names he hopes will get wider adoption include Hakatere - the Ashburton River, Kaumira - Mount Nimrod and Ka Tiritiri o te Moana - the Southern Alps.
Council spokesperson Jackie Curtis says if the idea is approved it will apply only to council documents, not place name signposts.
