From NZH
"The Geographic Board has narrowed a list of several public proposals for honouring the New Zealand icon down to one - to rename the South Ridge of Aoraki-Mt Cook "Hillary Ridge" ...While some might think Sir Ed's enormous contribution merits the naming of a whole mountain, or mountain range"Ummm - what contribution did ed make to maori?
I tend to believe that everything should be renamed back to maori. Just think about the recent weather in maori- showing the correct names for each area - it didn't make anyone's head explode. We could double-name for a while, no problem. Consultation is important as this story shows.
From NZH
"Te Heipora Place, off Arataki Rd, was named after the principal wife of Te Hapuku, an important chief in the area in the 1870s. Te Heipora owned a large area of land there.
Residents objected at a naming and blessing ceremony yesterday morning because they had not been part of the naming process, saying the name was too unfamiliar and difficult to pronounce.Oh dear - Te Heipora (tay hay-pora) - that's fixed.
"But kaumatua Jerry Hapuku said the name had great significance, and matched Karanema Drive, which was named after Te Heipora's son or grandson.
The iwi did not intend to compromise. "We want this name on this street. It is how we feel as descendants," he said."and as Pukepuke Tangiora Huata, a descendent of Te Heipora says
"We have foreign tourists visiting who can say the words right but some people born in New Zealand don't want to."Don't want to!
If we did go to maori names we would soon adjust. It would really help this country and create opportunities to move forward.
Bit more about names from Lew at Kiwipolitico
