Kaikohe name change will 'lift the self-esteem of young people'

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Mon, 02 Nov 2009 8:41a.m.

Ngapuhi leader David Rankin

Ngapuhi leader David Rankin

By Cate Owen 
 
What's in a name?
 
Some of the local iwi in Kaikohe want to change the town's name back to what they say is the original name, Opango.
 
This has raised some debate over the original name of the township.
 
Maori academic and Ngapuhi leader David Rankin says that although there is debate, “the old people know the word Opango”.
 
Opango means ‘the shrinking of your enemies heads’ – literally the mummification of human heads.
 
Mr Rankin says that the word itself is an important reason to change the name, as Kaikohe refers to “a battle, and about starvation and deprivation of our people” and was a name imposed on the community by their enemy at the time.
 
Mr Rankin thinks the name change will boost morale and pride in the town’s Maori youth.
 
“A warrior culture will lift the self-esteem of our young people and to actually place back inside our young people ‘we were once warriors’ and we still are warriors,” he told Sunrise’s Ali Ikram.
 
“We’ve seen, as Maori, the sanitisation of our history, the sanitisation of our culture. The missionaries sanitised our culture, and now we actually have Maori academics that actually sanitise our culture,” Mr Rankin said.
 
“We have academics now that say ‘Maori were not cannibals, Maori were not this, Maori were not war-like. We were a peace-loving people.’ That is not true.”
 
Mr Rankin says he has approached the Geographic Board and the Maori Language Commissioner, and has started a petition which has around 600 signatures. He is also considering a hikoi and other protest action if the matter is not resolved.
 
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Comments

12 Jun 2011 08:52a.m.

Jean Beardsall wrote:

I think that mummification of heads is even worse than starvation & deprivation. Development as a people means letting go of the past. Why not choose a name which indicates forgiveness for the past & moving on to a peaceful & positive future? Anyway, I'm sure Ngapuhi have many admirable traits aside from having killed enemies in the past. I attended the Ngapuhi festival here and the art works by Ngapuhi artists were fabulous.

10 Dec 2009 03:17a.m.

Nadia wrote:

OMG! like kia kaha?? were you not listening? they want to change the name for a reason not for any willy nilly reason like just to use kia kaha! and theres a reason young people dont name towns, only kaumatua(elders) that know the history of old do because they would know the names of old, it would be out right disrespectful to have young people that have no idea of the history to name Kaikohe "Kia Kaha"
And what is up with the use of "raping & pillaging"? one person mentions it next minute everyone thinks that is what maori of old did as the norm.
Warriors - Ngapuhi fought to stay alive, for honour, for revenge, for statis.
Its a tricky one i would have to go home and ask my papa what he thinks KAIKOHE or OPANGO. Sonny Tau is right about Kaikohe being Kaikohekohe but he doesnt have the right to make decisions on behalf of the people of Kaikohe.

04 Nov 2009 06:58a.m.

Jan.. wrote:

God speed, Opango"Kaikohe name is rasicims, it is bad if you don't know the meaning of the word Kaikohe..

Hello to all my Ngapuhi family..

03 Nov 2009 05:45p.m.

Sue Thomson wrote:

I doubt that the warrior culture referred to is one of raping and pillaging, no one in there right mind would be suggesting that. I believe it to equate with Once were Warriors Alan Duffs book which suggests that instead of motivated, strong, ambitious men and woman Maori have become amotivated, lacking in ambition and disempowered.

03 Nov 2009 09:17a.m.

Billy wrote:

yes change the name kaikohe has depressing conotations but why change it to a nasty name why not something new and uplifting like Kia kaha, cultures are always evolving so why not evolve not retard ,it is your right, get the young peoples support get them plus the elders to decide on a new name.

02 Nov 2009 11:05a.m.

Nikolasa wrote:

I think your understanding of a "warrior culture" is misaligned. "In many societies in which a specialized warrior class exists, specific codes of conduct (ethical codes) are instituted in order to ensure that the warrior class is not corrupted or otherwise dangerous to the rest of society. Warrior codes often have common features and usually value honour in the forms of faith, loyalty and courage." Those are values that most would aspire to. To equate this with "killing, raping and pillaging" ... "like the Maori of old" clearly shows your lack of insight and knowledge regarding Maori histories. I suggest educating yourself and then commenting it's more interesting that way. Kia ora!

02 Nov 2009 10:31a.m.

Peter wrote:

Mr Rankin may be right in many respects about the history and culture of the Maori people, but I seriously wonder whether a "warrior culture" is what the young people of any people need in this day. We do not need young people thinking that they can kill, rape and pillage like the Maori of old because "that's our culture". We need the young people to have morals and good values instilled into them so that they will rise above their historical culture and be upstanding citizens in a modern world.