'Let's educate New Zealand... we're not Fonganui' - 27/01/2010The city and region may have two official spellings – Wanganui and Whanganui – but it is most definitely not ‘Fonganui’.
That was the unanimous resolution of the Wanganui District Council yesterday, who supported Mayor Michael Laws in his attempt to get the New Zealand news media to pronounce our name properly.
The council will work with local Maori leaders to draw up a guideline for national media and organisations as to how the city should be pronounced.
Since the decision of Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson, many media organisations have been pronouncing the ‘Wh’ as a F’.
“The ‘h’ has always been silent or, at best, aspirated – as in ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘why’. It is the reason the first Europeans transcribed the name as they did. Even with the ‘h’ added, there is no ‘f’ sound. That sound does not exist in the local dialect.”
The resolution was seconded by Cr Rangi Wills – a local Maori leader and proponent of the ‘h’ spelling.
“The ‘f’ is an invention,” Cr Wills told the council meeting. “I fully endorse this campaign.”
Mayor Laws has been tasked with meeting media organisations and the Minister of Land Information with the aim of ensuring that Wanganui/Whanganui’s unique spelling, and pronunciation, receives official and media support. | 
