Post by Kiwi Frontline on Feb 7, 2016 10:48:41 GMT 12
Sunday Star Times 7/2/16
PLACE NAMES
Jonathan S. Milne’s editorial (‘‘A new name for New Zealand – 4real’’, January 31) mentions certain names which have been banned by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Rightly so. A name like 4real would be surreal. English place names are now known by their Maori names as well now, such as Mt Cook is also Aoraki (not Aorangi), Mt Egmont/ Taranaki, Wanganui becomes Whanganui.
But wait! Wanganui is not a Maori word, I am informed. It is a Waitaha word.
Aotearoa does not mean the Land of the Long White Cloud. I was told by an old Maori friend that it simply means ‘‘Long White Cloud’’. Quite possibly some Pakeha inserted ‘‘The Land of’’.
Milne suggests that we should change the name of New Zealand to Aotearoa, but I suggest that before we go off half-cocked about our future, we should sort out our history first.
K G. M
Kaipara
RENAMING NEW ZEALAND as Aotearoa would be a radical step that defies the history of our country, as early Maori applied that title to the North Island only.
In his book, The Treaty of Waitangi: An Explanation (published as recently as 1923), Sir Apirana Ngata spelled this out in no uncertain terms.
Quote: ‘‘The laws made by Parliament affect all the people living on the face of this land, the land properly delineated and known as Aotearoa, the South Island and adjacent islands.’’
So the South Island was seen as a distinctly separate entity from Aotearoa in the eyes of early Maori.
Those wishing to change history should research the original terminology as opposed to the versions that exist in the muchaltered te reo of today.
Sir Apirana’s excellent book should be mandatory reading in all New Zealand schools – but then again, perhaps it contains too many inconvenient facts.
Aotearoa never included the South Island, nor was Stewart Island.
There is little sense in changing the present name to one that has no historical basis.
M M
Kaipara
PLACE NAMES
Jonathan S. Milne’s editorial (‘‘A new name for New Zealand – 4real’’, January 31) mentions certain names which have been banned by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Rightly so. A name like 4real would be surreal. English place names are now known by their Maori names as well now, such as Mt Cook is also Aoraki (not Aorangi), Mt Egmont/ Taranaki, Wanganui becomes Whanganui.
But wait! Wanganui is not a Maori word, I am informed. It is a Waitaha word.
Aotearoa does not mean the Land of the Long White Cloud. I was told by an old Maori friend that it simply means ‘‘Long White Cloud’’. Quite possibly some Pakeha inserted ‘‘The Land of’’.
Milne suggests that we should change the name of New Zealand to Aotearoa, but I suggest that before we go off half-cocked about our future, we should sort out our history first.
K G. M
Kaipara
RENAMING NEW ZEALAND as Aotearoa would be a radical step that defies the history of our country, as early Maori applied that title to the North Island only.
In his book, The Treaty of Waitangi: An Explanation (published as recently as 1923), Sir Apirana Ngata spelled this out in no uncertain terms.
Quote: ‘‘The laws made by Parliament affect all the people living on the face of this land, the land properly delineated and known as Aotearoa, the South Island and adjacent islands.’’
So the South Island was seen as a distinctly separate entity from Aotearoa in the eyes of early Maori.
Those wishing to change history should research the original terminology as opposed to the versions that exist in the muchaltered te reo of today.
Sir Apirana’s excellent book should be mandatory reading in all New Zealand schools – but then again, perhaps it contains too many inconvenient facts.
Aotearoa never included the South Island, nor was Stewart Island.
There is little sense in changing the present name to one that has no historical basis.
M M
Kaipara