NZ Geographic Board Decision on spelling of 'Wanganui' - 30/03/2009

Mayor Michael Laws today said that the decision of the NZ Geographic Board to unilaterally change the spelling of the city and district from ‘Wanganui’ to ‘Whanganui’ is “morally and historically wrong, and will be resisted with all effort and endeavour by the Wanganui District Council and the vast majority of the citizens of Wanganui.”

“In essence, the board is recommending the end of 170 years of history – it is seeking to destroy our culture and heritage. This is a direct attack upon our city and our citizens. It will be resisted.

“The view of Wanganui citizens has been overridden by a few non-Wanganui people based in Wellington. They were wrong in the early 1990s - they are wrong now. They are using their 1990s decision to justify today.”

Mayor Laws said that it may be possible to hold a district-wide referendum, in association with the draft Ten Year Plan consultation, “to gauge whether Wanganui people still feel as strongly as they did in 2006 – when 82% of our residents wanted our city and district spelled the same way.”

“Looking at the board’s recommendations, you can see that their understanding of history is grossly deficient and we will be drawing that to their attention. We have three months to change their minds, and we will not be wasting a day.”

Ends