Geographic Board says Wanganui should be spelt with an 'h'

Email
Print

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 5:57p.m.

Michael Laws (NZPA)

Michael Laws (NZPA)

Wanganui’s mayor Michael Laws has lost the battle over one little letter in the English alphabet.

The 'h' debate has divided the city of Wanganui, like the river that runs through it, and today's recommendation to adopt an h in the spelling of Wanganui has divided it further.

Mr Laws said that he is angry, upset, disappointed and that the decision to add the 'h' is racist.

It's a win for local iwi who asked for the change, but many Maori have taken offence to Mr Laws calling the decision racist.

Maori Party Co-leader Tariana Turia said: “I think this is very sad. This is not about racism - this is about doing the right thing. This is about taking our country forward.”

The Geographic Board is made up of 10 members, three of them Maori, and it is chaired by the surveyor-general.

The Geographic Board Chair Don Grant said: “At the time when the settlers in 1844 sought to have the name of their city changed to Wanganui, there were two possible spellings and they chose one. Now with the Maori Language Commission we have the authority for what the correct spelling of Maori words is."

The final say lies with Maurice Williamson, the Minister for Land Information who says he does not have a timetable and is clearly not looking forward to making the decision.

"It's not going to be a win whichever way you go with everybody. This is just political and that's going to be it."

Earlier this year a poll of Wanganui voters came out at 77 percent in favour of keeping the current spelling which appears to have influenced the thinking of Prime Minister John Key.

If the name is changed, the Geographic Board recommends a 12-month integration period where both spellings could be used, maps and signs would have to be changed, but businesses wouldn't be forced to, some though are considering it.

The Geographic Board received 880 submissions, 444 opposed to the H, 436 in favour.

3 News

Don Grant, Chair of Geographic Board, explains the decision on RadioLIVE.
 
Become a fan of 3 News on Facebook and on Twitter.

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

09 Jan 2011 01:13p.m.

muz wrote:

Honour Our TWO Referendums.....NO h

24 Sep 2009 04:26p.m.

Angry Whanganuian wrote:

Michael Laws, although I appreciate your good intentions to support local business in this tough economic climate I am extremely offended that you considered the Geographic Boards recommendation to be racist. Afterall it was racist to change the name in the first place let alone to a Maori name that didn't actually exist at the time.

How would you feel if Maori people made a decision to call you 'Mikaere Ture' because it suited them better? - now maybe that would be racist!

If you sincerely think that child abuse and poverty are the only issues affecting Maoridom - maybe the kids at Otaki school could teach you a thing or two. What you did to those poor kids was extremely offensive. Why don't you just do what you are paid to do and actually deal with the real issues.

For decades Maori people have been trying to revive their language, we have come along way considering it was almost lost because of arrogant settlers who expected Maori to conform to their way of life.

Many maori people have educated themselves in the european world and adapted whilst retaining their language and traditions which is a great achievement. These people have been oppressed for far to long.

I know you love Whanganui (without the H) but you can still refer to it as Wanganui if you wish - we just want our name back. Why can't you just accept defeat gracefully and let us have what is rightfully ours.

God Bless you - sounds like you are going to need it.

23 Sep 2009 08:46p.m.

Laughing at Laws wrote:

Micheal Laws, I hope you read this... The people voted you in, and you will be voted out.

22 Sep 2009 11:53p.m.

eko wrote:

lets vote on how mike spells his last name. lets vote to change it to lors. if enough of us vote for it to be spelled differently then surely democracy dctates he should spell his name the way we want him to spell it, the fact it's his is irrelevant. obviously voters choose spellings, lets also change brought and taught and caught and other similar words cos lets face it those are useless archaic spellings that everyone gets wrong anyway

18 Sep 2009 08:12a.m.

annon wrote:

Just remember the un-delighted still live in Wanganui, They support the Mayor, they run this city.

18 Sep 2009 06:05a.m.

Chrissy wrote:

Michael Laws certainly mayor with your critique you should be doing the right thing and just learn to accept that everything has been taken in account by the geographic board and the whole eight voted for Whanganui. It has been debated and submissions has been disected and discussed. Quite simultaneously you need to swallow your pride and ego and get over it Mr Michael Laws. If you cannot go forward then you are living in the past. I think you are dividing the people of Whanganui. You need to think about more serious matter than letting the h get to you. Whanganui people need a mayor to create jobs look after their finances and work on other projects to build and attract people to do business in Whanganui.They do not want you to spend their taxpayers money on trying to find a law to abolish the h from Wanganui, unless you going to pay for it out of your own pocket. If you cannot get over the h been added into Whanganui then you are not fir to make any decisions or gripes on any other affairs for the township. You should be concentrating on other important matters and issues that needs to be address. Whanganui has not been modified it has only been and it will be as it is.

18 Sep 2009 06:02a.m.

Glenn wrote:

This whole thing is just a big joke. 150 years spelt without an 'h' and now it's wrong?

18 Sep 2009 06:02a.m.

Glenn wrote:

This whole thing is just a big joke. 150 years spelt without an 'h' and now it's wrong?

17 Sep 2009 11:32p.m.

delighted wrote:

There there tut tut, what a sookie! Tell me, what does "wanga" mean? If the people of Whanganui want to live in a city where the name means nothing then thats just dumb. You can still pronounce it the same way that you always have just make sure you spell it correctly. I also heard MicHael Laws say "rayshist", he cant even pronounce english words properly! He has a cheek to say its a racist decision, he is racist, if you want proof then listen to him on talkback radio. He obviously uses his mouth to make up for other parts of him that are inadequate.Get over it micHael, you dont own Whanganui, you're only the mayor!

17 Sep 2009 09:54p.m.

Angry Citz wrote:

"This is about taking our country forward." Im sorry Turrie, But your logic is far from the logic i see. By taking our country forward you have broken a town in two, Seperated opinions in the country and are now moving to correct other towns too. Why? Because you feel that you as Maori are entitled to more. This town is called Wanganui. I shalt not call it otherwise, Not by your orders, Not by the governments orders. For me, This town shall remain Wanganui. Sorry Turrie, You cant change me.