Wanganui's 'h' still not official

Published: 7:31PM Sunday January 29, 2012 Source: ONE News

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Wanganui 'h' campaigners are upset at delays in getting the polarising letter officially included in the town's name.

After a long debate, the government decided two years ago the town could be spelt either Wanganui or Whanganui.

But it is still not official, because the necessary law changes haven't gone through, leaving those who pushed for the change frustrated.

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Wanganui Mayor Annette Main is also frustrated.

"For those people who want to use the spelling of Whanganui including the 'h', then they come up with opposition from other people who say that it's not an official name," she said.

"We must stick with Wanganui at the moment. It's frustrating.

"I just want the names gazetted so that we can then start making the decision around it."

It was 2009 when the New Zealand Geographic Board recommended Wanganui have an 'h'.

Back then, Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson said it would take just a minor technical change to the legislation for that to happen.

But three years on, it is still not official.

Ken Mair, who campaigned for the 'h' says it is taking too long.

"I'm not quite sure if you need to have our name gazetted, all we need to see is a sign of good faith in regard to having our name on the road signs spelt correctly and maps," he said.

And while it matters to local Maori, one sign writer says many businesses won't bother using the 'h' because of the associated costs.

"If you've got a great big sign that goes right across the whole front of your building and it happens to have the word Wanganui in it there and you want to change it, you might have to end up changing the whole sign which could cost you several thousand dollars," said Ross Hendy.

Williamson says he wanted the change to be included in a raft of legislation the Government had planned to pass under urgency last year, but says a protest from the Green Party stopped that happening.

"We're going to have to do it as a stand alone piece of legislation, and you can imagine it doesn't rank as one of the highest pieces of legislation," he said.

As time passes, it is still unclear just when 'Whanganui' will become official.

What do you think? Have your say on the messageboard below.

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