The TOTI Trust has submitted an application to Hamilton City Council to consider renaming a central city street Dame Hilda Ross Way in commemoration of its namesake.
Dame Hilda (1889-1959) is a historic Hamilton figure. Her social and political work held pioneer status in her time.
Dame Hilda co-founded children's health camps, was well-versed in music and conducting, and was a hospital board member.
World War II saw her become a Member of Parliament and a Cabinet minister, and she saw through Hamilton's achievement of city status in 1945.
"As of yet, council has not given any indication as to any preferred renaming," said TOTI spokeswoman Mavora Hamilton.
"TOTI has asked for Ward St, running from Victoria St to Centre Place, to be renamed Dame Hilda Ross Way. Another preferred option would be for the renaming of that part of Ward St, Worley Place and the shared space to be completely renamed Dame Hilda Ross Way. To date we have received a very positive and supportive response to our proposal."
Parliamentarians, mana whenua, business, community groups, historians and Ross family descendants have all expressed their support for the renaming.
Voices also expressed concern at the decreasing public visibility of Dame Hilda's legacy, as the Waikato Hospital's Hilda Ross Centre no longer existed and the Dame Hilda Ross memorial fountain at Founders Theatre was also under threat.
The options regarding the renaming of streets is expected to be presented to the council's community and services committee in April, where a single option will be officially decided upon.
"We delayed the renaming application as council was revamping its road renaming policy," said Mavora.
"The only notable change was that, previously, streets were not named after living people," she said.
"TOTI was keen to see that when renaming streets that the proper name of the person be used.
"The only two streets that have been renamed in current history were Sapper Moore-Jones Place, which was previously Marlborough, and Anzac Parade, which was previously Bridge St."
The site for a sculpture of Dame Hilda Ross has already been approved, and will be on the corner of Ward St and Worley Place, opposite Centre Place.
The application for the artists' concepts close on March 3.
The finalists will be discussed and considered with wider community consultation.
"Our completion goal is 2018 and it is proposed that the street renaming and unveiling will take place simultaneously, as this would enable property owners and businesses sufficient lead-time to make and apply any consequential changes to their addresses, marketing and so on," said Mavora.