“Tie-Tap” Now Permitted

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31332, 31 March 1967, Page 10

“Tie-Tap” Now Permitted

“Motcher-karara” has been approved by the Broadcasting Corporation for use by radio and television announcers instead of the correct Maori pronunciation of Motukarara. “Tie-Tap” is also back after a long spell when Tai-Tapu, with the “u” sounded, was in vogue. “Wy-mary” returns in place of whatever was the perfect Maori pronunciation of Waimairi. Radio announcers in Christchurch said yesterday that they were not unduly “put out" by trying to pronounce local Maori names correctly. Most of these names were straight-forward, and there were not very many.

The rule by which announcers now pronounce Maori names is that they follow the anglicised version if it has been in common use for at least 25 years. Announcers will no longer have to say “Rang-ee-ora” for Rangiora. Radio and television announcers in Auckland can now say “Oterhoo” for Otahuhu, “Oh-nee-hung-er” for Onehunga, and “Mow-ter-hee” for Motuihe.

So far only the four main centres have been given permission to use a small number of local versions of Maori words. Other centres have been asked to submit suggested local pronunciations to Wellington for approval, and the main centres are submitting doubtful cases.