Maori Place Name Debate Erupts into Call to Change NZ’s Name.

Amidst all the tragedy, suffering and loss of life, from the White Island eruption, Carmen Parahi has seen fit to insist that all place names in New Zealand should revert to their original names, and that includes dropping New Zealand for Aotearoa. Only Stuff would think it appropriate for her to do so.

In his column on Wednesday, Karl du Fresne bemoaned the current reclamation of Maori place names, especially by RNZ. “It’s arrogant and elitist, and shows contempt for listeners because it leaves them to guess what place the reporter is talking about,” du Fresne said. The arrogance, elitism and contempt surely belongs to others. Du Fresne concedes there’s scope for many more places to revert to their Maori names. But he wants it done through open, public debate and consensus rather than by stealth

Cue: inevitable gripe about colonialism:

There was no public debate or consensus afforded to Maori when names
with genealogical links were dumped when the land was being sold cheaply
or taken from Maori by the Crown and private landowners in the 19th and
20th centuries. New Zealand, and the English language, was undemocratically imposed on everyone by those in power years ago. Perhaps, the increased use of te reo Maori and Maori place names is an indicator it’s time to dump New Zealand for Aotearoa.

stuff.co.nz/national/118108396/we-should-reinstate-every-mori-place-name

Perhaps the incensed Carmen would like to go back to the days of tribal slaughter, an average life expectancy of 35, no infrastructure, no hospitals, schools, or any Western benefits. She can’t have it both ways.