pn792 Māori Party call for name changes the wrong way to go

Official, media and I think public support for the use of the Māori language has increased in recent years and a significant number of Māori and Pakēhā are now enrolled in language classes.  

If this mood continues, and is taken up by young people, the target of having a million Māori speakers in 20 years time could well become a reality, and New Zealand will be a more understanding, tolerant and better place to live as a result.  

But at this point in time the outcome is by no means certain. Alongside the move to make things Māori part of the New Zealand mainstream, there is a counter-current to ignore, belittle or name it irrelevant. 

Most outspoken here is Don Brash and his Hobson's Choice movement, but the reaction to a recommendation that mātauranga Māori be included in school science curricular has resulted in an outcry by a number of emeritus professors which has the potential of also turning racist.  (See NZ Listener from July 31 and ongoing) 

With a situation that could go either way, today's Māori Party petition is far from helpful. The party has chosen this week, Māori Language Week (Te wiki o Te Reo Māori) to launch a petition calling for our country to be officially known as Aotearoa and the Māori names of all towns, cities and place names to be restored by 2026. Click here for the full article.

Wrong, wrong and wrong,  

■ There's no way this is going to happen. Aotearoa NZ perhaps but not Aotearoa alone. Dual names for some places but not all, and only a few name changes (see pn663, below).  

■ We are a nation of many cultures and all should be recognised and respected.  

■ The petition will produce a backlash that will undermine much of the progress we have made. It plays right into the hands of the racists, and in itself has the seeds of racism.

As has been said in another context, we are all in this together, the team of 5 million. Let's keep it that way.

-- ACW

Relevant. Use "search" to read

pn660. The Thorny Question of what History to teach in NZ Schools

pn661, Emotional Challenge: They'd never heard of the (Māori) NZ Wars

pn663, Maxwell South Taranaki. What history will be taught there? (Sergeant Maxwell shot Māori women and children in the back and a township was named after him!)_