Names for our "Islands"

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Technofreak

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#792726 3-Apr-2013 22:04

Name changes like this just confuse the rest of the world and really don't serve any useful purpose.

Have you ever noticed that most parts of the world that change their names are usually some place that has an identity crisis or has gone through or about to go through a destabilising political change. Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, Ceylon/Sri Lanka, Burma/Myanmar to name a couple. I hope we're not heading this way.

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tdgeek

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#792784 3-Apr-2013 22:47

I like it that many place names reflect our Maori heritage. But, as a non Maori resident, I also like English placenames, that is also a heritage for some of us. So I prefer the status quo and a mix, not a non required, but news filling PC idea.

bfginger

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#793293 4-Apr-2013 15:55

There are multiple Maori names for both islands. They shouldn't be picking winners for which ones have official status and which don't.

Behodar

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#793309 4-Apr-2013 16:14

bazzer: I guess over time, the old timer/stick in the mud types will have less of an influence.

Here in the BOP, Mt Edgecumbe was renamed to Putauaki in 1925... but I've never heard anyone call it Putauaki. The English names do tend to hang around for a long time.

qwerty7

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#793900 5-Apr-2013 14:47

North bridge & South bridge. Both water cooled :)

Elpie

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#794062 5-Apr-2013 20:29

I'd be very happy to dispense with "North Island" and "South Island". Trying to explain to overseas people that the North Island is not the northern-most island and that there are islands south of the South Island quickly turns into confusion for everyone. Those misnomers give the impression that NZ is made up of two islands. Try explaining that NZ is an island nation made up of a large number of named islands when all they have ever heard is that we have a north and south. Then someone mentions the "mainland", meaning the South Island, and they hear about the Bay of Islands -confusion really sets in. I mean, heck, look at how many islands we have: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_New_Zealand

For many people overseas NZ is an exotic country on their bucket list. Having exotic names for the islands sure beats the boring (and meaningless) north and south.

I'm all for the change.

1eStar

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#794144 5-Apr-2013 23:18

Warning: this is a true story. I.e. not a joke.

I once met a girl from Temuka (South Canterbury) and asked "have you been to the North Island?" She replied: "I dont don't think so"... "But I have been to Wellington"

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bradstewart

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#794160 6-Apr-2013 01:14

1eStar: I once met a girl from Temuka <snip>

Say no more

NZCrusader

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#794162 6-Apr-2013 02:59

KiwiNZ:
TheMantis:
KiwiNZ:
TheMantis:
BlueShift:
TheMantis: There's no need to change them at all. The Geographic Board are guilty of being some of the biggest oxygen thieves among our bloated bureaucracy. As far as I'm concerned it will always be "Wanganui" and "Mt Egmont" too. Dual place names don't work because the PC media only use the Maori version, the same with schools. In time the long standing English names of many geographic locations will be forgotten.

Wanganui being a long standing English name? And of course the even longer standing Maori names like Taranaki have no place in the scheme?

Wanganui is the name of a settlement, a settlement where the majority of occupants agreed with the original spelling. Even if the original spelling was incorrect in the eyes of some it doesn't matter.

I don't mind my province being called Taranaki at all. I never said I don't like Maori names for geographic locations, only my dislike for dual names as the media and educators tend to quickly drop any reference to the English version. Maori are always wanting to retain their identity and history (which is understandable) should the majority of us have to loose ours just to accomplish this completely token exercise.

With regards to Mt Taranaki (Egmont) I can not see how John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont who never visited the Mount or NZ has any relevance to New Zealands heritage.

He has no less an association than a make believe warrior who caught the North Island while out fishing.

At least the legend of Maui have relevance to New Zealand.

There is no legend of Maui. Its just some crock of %$*t that the natives came up with.

In reality maori legends are just altered Chinese stories when the migration happened long ago to the pacific.

I don't want the islands renamed. Happy with the English names.
Already am sick of the maori culture forced on us.

The primary school I used to attend now forces students to use the maori names for colours etc instead of the English names, which is of absolutely no use.

Sooner we get this crap abolished the better.

MikeB4

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#794165 6-Apr-2013 05:54

NZCrusader:
KiwiNZ:
TheMantis:
KiwiNZ:
TheMantis:
BlueShift:
TheMantis: There's no need to change them at all. The Geographic Board are guilty of being some of the biggest oxygen thieves among our bloated bureaucracy. As far as I'm concerned it will always be "Wanganui" and "Mt Egmont" too. Dual place names don't work because the PC media only use the Maori version, the same with schools. In time the long standing English names of many geographic locations will be forgotten.

Wanganui being a long standing English name? And of course the even longer standing Maori names like Taranaki have no place in the scheme?

Wanganui is the name of a settlement, a settlement where the majority of occupants agreed with the original spelling. Even if the original spelling was incorrect in the eyes of some it doesn't matter.

I don't mind my province being called Taranaki at all. I never said I don't like Maori names for geographic locations, only my dislike for dual names as the media and educators tend to quickly drop any reference to the English version. Maori are always wanting to retain their identity and history (which is understandable) should the majority of us have to loose ours just to accomplish this completely token exercise.

With regards to Mt Taranaki (Egmont) I can not see how John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont who never visited the Mount or NZ has any relevance to New Zealands heritage.

He has no less an association than a make believe warrior who caught the North Island while out fishing.

At least the legend of Maui have relevance to New Zealand.

There is no legend of Maui. Its just some crock of %$*t that the natives came up with.

In reality maori legends are just altered Chinese stories when the migration happened long ago to the pacific.

I don't want the islands renamed. Happy with the English names.
Already am sick of the maori culture forced on us.

The primary school I used to attend now forces students to use the maori names for colours etc instead of the English names, which is of absolutely no use.

Sooner we get this crap abolished the better.

do you have some links to back your claims?

sleemanj

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#794275 6-Apr-2013 13:04

NZCrusader: Sooner we get this crap abolished the better.

You sound like my dad during his mid-life crisis. Thankfully he grew out of it eventually.

Our unique Maori culture and language is a valuable asset to New Zealand. You ask any overseas person about New Zealand, you can bet that Maori is one of the first things they think of. What is the one thing you can pretty much rely on any group of young NZ'rs overseas doing... a Haka, regardless of their cultural background. Maori language, culture, history and people are quite possibly the most identifiable aspect of NZ.

To ignore, or worse, discard it, would be a colossal error.

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toprob

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#794312 6-Apr-2013 14:26

The impression I had is that this isn't a matter of changing the names, or giving them a Maori name, but fixing an oversight, in that they don't really have names at all.
Ok, we know they do, they are called 'The North Island' and 'The South Island', but these aren't very user-friendly. Imagine an old-folk's home in Auckland on a Monday morning -- "Well, chaps, we've all spent our pensions -- all we have is a cut lunch and a Super Gold Card -- there's only one option -- Waiheke!"
Simple, user-friendly and unambiguous.
Now imagine another rest-home in Christchurch. "There's only one option -- North!"
"ok, off to the mall..." "No, wait, I thought he meant Nelson" "Are we going to Alaska?"
There is really no way around having to call them by their full names. Nobody says "I live on North Island" or even I live IN North Island"
So, for the sake of the old folks, they need a proper name.

TheMantis

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#794319 6-Apr-2013 14:55

sleemanj:
NZCrusader: Sooner we get this crap abolished the better.

You sound like my dad during his mid-life crisis. Thankfully he grew out of it eventually.

Our unique Maori culture and language is a valuable asset to New Zealand. You ask any overseas person about New Zealand, you can bet that Maori is one of the first things they think of. What is the one thing you can pretty much rely on any group of young NZ'rs overseas doing... a Haka, regardless of their cultural background. Maori language, culture, history and people are quite possibly the most identifiable aspect of NZ.

To ignore, or worse, discard it, would be a colossal error.

A bit like this really :http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8517466/Danish-politician-slams-Maori-welcome

sleemanj

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#794322 6-Apr-2013 15:04

TheMantis:

A bit like this really :http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8517466/Danish-politician-slams-Maori-welcome

"Krarup is a member of parliament for the Danish People's Party, which is described as a very right-wing party by political commentators. Its goals are to protect the freedom and cultural heritage of the Danish people, and limit immigration."

Translation: Danish Nearly Nazi Party member finds non white european people and culture and history disagreeable.

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Technofreak

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#794335 6-Apr-2013 15:31

Elpie: I'd be very happy to dispense with "North Island" and "South Island". Trying to explain to overseas people that the North Island is not the northern-most island and that there are islands south of the South Island quickly turns into confusion for everyone. Those misnomers give the impression that NZ is made up of two islands. Try explaining that NZ is an island nation made up of a large number of named islands when all they have ever heard is that we have a north and south. Then someone mentions the "mainland", meaning the South Island, and they hear about the Bay of Islands -confusion really sets in. I mean, heck, look at how many islands we have: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_New_Zealand

For many people overseas NZ is an exotic country on their bucket list. Having exotic names for the islands sure beats the boring (and meaningless) north and south.

I'm all for the change.

Just imagine all the confusion and pronunciation difficulties we'll have with foreigners trying to get used to Te Ika-a-Maui (Maui's Fish) and Te Waipounamu (Wet Greenstone) plus all the various ways they will be pronouced by New Zealanders. I know my oversea friends have enough problems with easy to say names now.

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