Kaikohe - the next W(h)anganui?

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Thu, 17 Sep 2009 5:45p.m.

By David Farrier

It's not only Wanganui struggling with its name. Far North mayor Wayne Brown wants the town of Kaikohe to embrace te reo, from street signs to shop fronts.

The suggestion is causing division, with one Maori leader pointing out that Kaikohe may have its name wrong as well.

Mr Brown is suggesting Kaikohe renames everything from its geriatric hospital to its local rag in te reo Maori.

"I came up with the idea when I was at the opening of a Shell service station there," he says. "It says 'welcome', and I thought why not 'haere mai'?"


"I think the idea is a bold one, great for Maori language promotion and it reflects a progressive-thinking person," says Pania Papa, Maori Language Commission.

Predictably, idea has already caused division. The Kaikohe Business Association says their town is a service town, not some kind of souped-up tourist hotspot.

"I can't see it will be an advantage to anyone to change the names to some Maori name," says Win Stephens. "The bulk of the people have no idea what it means anyway."

On the other hand, local iwi are backing Mr Brown, but Ngapuhi chairman Sonny Tau says Mr Brown needs to begin with the basics.

"The first tying you have to do its get foundation right. The real name for this particular town is Kai Koho Koho, in memory of one of our ancestors."

That's right - Kaikohe could be Wanganui-gate all over again.

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Comments

30 Sep 2009 02:20p.m.

Allan Watson wrote:

Alien, yes I do realise "Watergate" was the name of the building, but that does not provide a reason for "Camilla-gate", "Squidgy-gate", "Wanganui-gate" and all the other "-gates" that the media have mis-named.

21 Sep 2009 09:34a.m.

Alien wrote:

Allan Watson, ah, you do realise Watergate was the building where the incident took place? Very simple answer, let's keep the spelling of every name, and on signs etc, have both names, the one people are used to, and what is perceived to be the original spelling, which wont be true since maori had no original spelling of their place names in english.

18 Sep 2009 02:53p.m.

mills wrote:

KAI KOHE KOHE....i guess its a renaisance of those who do give a dam and its timely too. Good on you Mr Brown of Kaikohe, this is someone who is pro-active and open minded and honest about who he is and what he stands for. Its all about educating those that need to know in the first instance, once thats sorted then the rest just follows: things are looking up

18 Sep 2009 04:42a.m.

Jan wrote:

Kai Koho Koho is the memories of the ancestors as Kaikohe is a shorter version to Kai Koho koho..
Te reo Maori is a beautiful name..

18 Sep 2009 12:51a.m.

bary wrote:

will there be an end to this nonsense ? there a hundreds of place names beginning with w in nz , are the multi million dollar settlements and prime realestate not enough , how about we change the name of this country to maori , its ridiculous the major issues facing maori today are placed low on the priorities list

17 Sep 2009 08:48p.m.

Allan Watson wrote:

Firstly, why do the media call every "scandal" "something-gate" ? The Watergate affair was nothing to do with water. Secondly, the teaching of correct spelling appears to have been abandoned years ago, with the result that many teachers, let alone students, are incapable of spelling even common words. So, who gives a damn how they spell Wanganui, people will still get it wrong.