Clash On Maori Name

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31249, 22 December 1966, Page 1

Clash On Maori Name

"The Press" Special Service PALMERSTON NORTH, Dec. 21. After a heated debate between the Mayor of Palmerston North, (Mr G. M. Rennie) and a Maori councillor, Cr. T. S. Mihaere, the Palmerston North City Council voted to name a street in its new Awatapu subdivision after Captain “Monty” Wikiriwhi, DSO., MC., of the Maori Battalion. Captain Wikiriwhi, an Aucklander, is now in the Auckland office of the Maori Affairs Department. The Maori Battalion national memorial stands in Palmerston North and the council some time ago decided on the Awatapu street naming as a mark of respect to distinguished battalion soldiers. But when Captain Wikiriwhi’s name first came forward several councillors said they could not get their tongues round it and the town planning committee was told to put forward an alternative naw Cr. Mihaere told the local newspapers had misgivings

about the attitude of the council.

On Monday the Mayor protested against this action. Holding up a copy of the paper, the Mayor said Cr. Mihaere had “told his views to the press before speaking at the council table.”

“The town-planning committee report was confidential,” he said. “I am very disturbed to see it aired before the meeting.” Cr. Mihaere figuratively drew his cloak around him and stepped on to the marae. “I was asked to give my view and I gave it,” he said. “The name is simple—‘Wi-ki-ri-whi.’ This is a sad and bad thing and an indictment of the European system of education.

“You have been 100 years colonising us Maoris—training us to go your way. “We have recently been told that the Maori must do more to educate himself, and here, with a street honoured by the name of a distinguished New Zealander—one of the youngest officers in the British Forces ever to gain the D.S.O.—you throw it out because you cannot pronounce your own written language. “You were the ones who put the Maori language down on paper. Now, I say, you learn it" if

European councillors rallied behind Cr. Mihaere. Cr. G. N. Cruden proposed an amendment that the change from Wikiriwhi be not sustained. “We knew we would have some pronunciation difficulties when we decided on this action,” he said. “The names were chosen. Now we seek a deletion, but not on grounds of merit.

“We insult this officer by suggesting the name change. I say the name must stand.” The amendment to adhere to Wikiriwhi crescent was carried.