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The "h" debate continues to rage in Wanganui and the council has resolved to lobby the Minister of Lands to get him to stop the "h" in its tracks.
But Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says Wanganui residents should look to the corrected spelling of their city's name as a unifying force.
"See the actions of tangata whenua as a gift, not an imposition," Dr Sharples said after the Geographic Board recommended that the "h" be restored and the name spelt as "Whanganui".
The spelling is already used for Whanganui National Park and the Whanganui River.
The board proposed the spelling be changed to Whanganui after local iwi committee Te Runanga O Tupoho petitioned for the change, a move vehemently opposed by the city's mayor Michael Laws, who on Thursday labelled the decision "racist".
A referendum showing the majority of residents, 19,000 people, wanted the name to remain without the "h", as it has been spelled for 172 years.
Laws says the council will appeal directly to the government over the decision.
"This particular issue is having national implications and it's not just Wanganui that has a particular interest in this matter," he says.
Sharples says he could understand that generations had adopted the name Wanganui and identified with it, but called upon the city's citizens to "show pride in Maori history and embrace Maori language, treasures which make us unique on the global scene".
"The name Whanganui has a whakapapa, a history. It carries meaning and significance. The name must be spelt properly, otherwise it loses integrity."
"Correcting the name, and the implicit recognition of that gift, could be a powerful unifying force in the life and future of the city."
"Is it really appropriate to identify a major city by a name that has been misappropriated from tangata whenua, that tries to deny its whakapapa, that is a parallel import, a cultural fake?" he asked.
Any name change had to be approved by Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson, who may confirm, modify or reject it.
But political observers have noted the government is relying heavily on the Maori Party to pass its Emissions Trading Scheme which is crucial to its climate change strategy.
The Geographic Board suggests making the change over at least 12
months to give local and central government agencies time to change
their letters and signs. Private businesses can choose for
themselves whether or not to comply.
Kim Gillespie, editor of the local daily newspaper - known for 153
years as The Wanganui Chronicle - says there are no plans to change
its name despite the board's recommendation.
"There's a large proportion of people in town who don't want the name to change and they probably wouldn't be too happy to see our paper change either," she says.
But if the government decided to change the city's name, the
newspaper would consider incorporating the "h" into the masthead,
Gillespie says.
What do you think of the decision? Should there be an "h" or not? Have your say on the messageboard below.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentmenacerec said on 2010-03-27 @ 04:33 NZDT: Report abusive post
Why havn't these "two referenda" been referenced at all? If the execution of polls is flawed they are meaningless. I expect more from the mayor of a city than to waste time this issue.
Psygone said on 2010-03-26 @ 23:50 NZDT: Report abusive post
I used to find this issue so tedious but now Im different. I am a pakeha who has studied the moari culture and tried to embrace it and the whanganui river people. However the attitude of a few Maori on this issue discusts me and Im sorry for myself that it is turning me into a racist and Im sure the same is happening to many Pakeha. To the select few Maori in WANGANUI who wanted this well done in playing the victim and undoing years of co existence.
Pacifier said on 2010-03-26 @ 21:27 NZDT: Report abusive post
I think we should bulldoze wanganui to the ground and make it into a lake or celebrate the future of Whanganui. Its simply, if you don't like Whanganui then move somewhere else. Whanganui doesn't belong to you just because you live in the town, it belongs to Maori who say name it properly
PaulsPOV said on 2010-03-26 @ 20:31 NZDT: Report abusive post
Realy is political correctness gone mad. Everyone's view is interesting but ultimately unimportant. Those who should decide are those who live there. If they want Wanganui, then that's exactly what they should get. Recent history is still history & the spelling mistake has been around for a long time. Personally I grew up with Wanganui - But I'm not a local & are happy to leave it up to them. (This should not be decided by a few political activists trying to make a point)
alli kris said on 2010-03-26 @ 20:14 NZDT: Report abusive post
It is interesting how this has played out. The Maori as i recall did not have a written language; the name Wanganui was given as the first written interpretation. Wanganui is the original and thus correct interpretation of its meaning. To change would create a mistake. this is one reason. The people who have lived for generations in Wanganui have an attachment to that place and equal rights to the local iwi. to work against the majority of the residents in favor of a few is undemocratic.