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1) Don’t know about Timaru but it seems obvious that the intetion of “the city founders” was to use an existing Maori name.
2) The answer is no, it is not OK for one culture to miss-spell and miss-pronounce the language of another culture. I don’t know about other countries but what is important here in Whanganui is that we live together and should then have a greater knowledge and respect for one another. It may be acceptable for me to be ignorant of cultures I am unfamiliar with and have no contact to, but it is not acceptable within Aotearoa / New Zealand when Maori and NZ European are partners together.
3) I would hope that we can encourage the rest of the county to respect the local dialect and pronounce Whanganui accordingly. I have a theory that has no historical support what so ever but seems logical to me. Why would those that created written Maori use WH to sound as F? Perhaps they were writing it to sound as the Whanganui dialect sounds. The Whanganui region was one of the earlier settled areas. Then it was discovered that other regions used the same words but with the F sound but because those words has already been written the initial spelling was maintained.
4) No the cost should not be a consideration but the value should. The value is in integrity, recognition, and a step towards greater harmony. The cost has been way overstated.
5) No democracy can not change something that is wrong to right.
You are right. The real issue is one of control, but it is spoken of. Not by those who take the power for granted but by those who are most detrimentally effected by it.
I don’t believe the spelling and pronuncuation are seperable. If the pronunciation is important then we also need to correct the current usage from Wonganui to Wanganui. (But with a silent H)
Comment by Greg — May 12, 2009 @ 12:28 am
This is a rerun of the debate that took place a number of years ago over the mountain formerly known as Mount Egmont. The debate was resolved, I believe, when the then Minister of Maori Affairs Koro Wetere, proposed that the mountain be known as either Mount Egmont OR Mount Taranaki. For most people it was a win-win solution, though I suspect the grandstanders were probably a little deflated!
I suggest that Wanganui be called either Wanganui OR Whanganui. It would take the heat from the current debate. It recognises the validity of arguements on both sides of the current debate, and both sides do have a case. Finally, it provides for a gradual phase in of changes if so desired. Someone will otherwise have to pay for all the changes, fortunately it won’t be me – I’m not a ratepayer, or businessman, -I live in WHangaehu!
Comment by David — May 12, 2009 @ 8:56 am
I don’t get it, what do you mean by the 3rd paragraph?
Comment by Vivalkakira — August 8, 2009 @ 8:09 am
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