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.
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.
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..
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.
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.
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!
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.