In the western sector of the parliamentary electorate (Hobson), I once served as MP for 9 years, at a glance, I counted 6 English named places and over 30 Māori, between Hokianga and Kaipara Harbour entrances. This ratio appears similar across the country.
Our country is saturated with Māori names:
Kohukohu, Kerikeri, Katikati, Mitimiti, Meremere,
Matamata, Ramarama, Toka Toka, Tiki Tiki.
Why then, the demand from some Māori, to change the name of
the first capital of our country i.e. Russell, to Kororāreka, to which former
MP of my intake, Jenny Shipley, says she supports?
Irony? I agree it is
time to change some names, not to Māori, but from the names of English
gentlemen, to outstanding New Zealanders
First off, the block, Kitchener Road, Takapuna.
Lord Kitcher, was a British army officer
and colonial administrator. As Chief of Staff (1900–1902) in the Second Boer War,
in the absence of Lord Roberts who was ill, he played a key role in the conquest
Paardeburg – where, “undeterred by his loses and ignoring pleas from front
line commanders to withdraw, he flung more troops - as if they were stones,
into fusillades of artillery and rifle resistance”.
Victory at Paardeburg under the ruthless mindset of
Kitchener, cost the British 1,3000 dead & wounded v 350 dead & wounded Boer
who in the end, were defeated by starvation. Later when Kitchner succeeded
Roberts as commander-in-chief – he invented concentration camps –
in which thousands of women and children, prisoners, perished under appalling
conditions. Time for Kitchener to go.
Lisa Carrington’s name should replace this British
version of Hitler & Stalin, on the road that partly surrounds Lake Pupuke,
Takapuna, where Dame Carrington spent many hours on her ride to unprecedented
glory as a multiple Olympic and World Champion.
The suburb of Auckland, Ponsonby, or at the very
least Ponsonby Road, should be changed from that of the British diplomat Lord
Ponsonby, who had no association with New Zealand other than, “issue instructions”,
in 1839 from his London sanctuary, to Captain Hobson.
Helen Clark’s name would be an appropriate label for
a suburb once known as a bastion of the working class. Rt Hon Helen Clark represented the adjacent
parliamentary electorate and has been the only prime minister since 2000 to
assert the sovereignty of parliament as law maker, over a Judiciary of “reinventors”
of democratically approved legislation.
Passage of time has delivered the several home-grown heroes.
Eden Park.
Possibly named after the volcanic peak of Mt Eden, named after George
Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, (1784 – 1849), who never set foot in New
Zealand.
An English Wigg politician and colonial administrator,
respected First Lord of the Admiralty Lord Auckland depended heavily on
competent staff but his indecisive personality and indifference to Indian
history and culture led to disastrous decisions being made during his term as
Governor-General in India.
New name for Eden Park?
Colin Meads Mecca.
Time for Gisborne to be renamed Kirkpatric.
William Gisborne, emigrated to New Zealand in 1847
where his apex position was Commissioner of Crown Lands. Although domiciled in Auckland, in 1870, the
city of Gisborne was named after him.
From a family which served Tairawhiti over many decades,
outstanding All Black and captain, Ian Kirkpatric tops my list.
When the province of Marlborough was
formed, Sir Thomas Gore Browne, the Governor of New Zealand, named it
after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough.
Any review of John Churchill (1650 – 1722), 1st Duke of
Marlborough, 1st Prince of Mindelheim, 1st Count of Nellenburg, Prince of the
Holy Roman Empire, confirms that he had no physical link with New Zealand and
in all probability, never knew New Zealand existed.
Worsley looms as the replacement name for Marlborough.
Born in Akaroa, Frank Worsley DSO & Bar (1872
-1943) was Shackleton’s navigator on the ship Endurance, who calculated
his position and charted courses to save the entire crew from shipwreck in
Antarctic waters despite freezing, windy, soaked conditions on small boats
tossing in the Southern Ocean. An
impressive performance to be followed by an astonishing odyssey of exploration,
science, navigation and feats of war.
Wellington. Named after a leading
political and military figure of the 19th century, the Duke of Wellington
is best remembered for his defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo in 1815. As
a general, he was renowned for his stunning defensive skills. His battle plans
are still studied in military academies today.
Time for a change to a home-grown Kiwi.
Wait for it. Muldoon.
I said, Muldoon.
PS Winston will have to wait.
Ross Meurant BA MPP. Company Director. www.gena.co.nz Former Police Inspector, Member of Parliament & Honorary Consul.
14 comments:
I think it is largely irrelevant if a feature or locality is named after some English person who did not set foot on these islands. What is important is, whatever they did or whoever they are, they represent a link to our Anglo-Saxon past, are part of our history and serve as a reminder for those who come later just what comprises our historical heritage. I am a cultural chauvinist and think that my forebears and their history, transplanted to these shores, are important and vital. Any changes merely undermine their undeniable value. About the only part I fully agree with Mr Meurant is the overwhelmingly preponderance of maori names, and the unreasonable demands to add more, to the detriment of my culture. To provide balance, each maori placename should have an English translation alongside and then we may see the possible inappropriateness of some of those names and be able to question their value and validity. Fair's fair.
It wasn't only the Anglo-Saxons who brought these islands to the attention of the world. Let's not forget the contribution of the Dutch viz. Abel Tasman, after whom Tasman Bay, Mount Tasman and of course the Tasman Sea were named after Tasman's time. Tasman himself named Moordenaars' Baai (Murderers' Bay) to be subsequently renamed Golden Bay. Perhaps we should reinstate Tasman's name tag.
And where would you suggest should be graced with the "Ardern" name, a landfill somewhere?
It's all about the power grab.
Ardern?
The sewerage pond at Albany
I agree with the first two comments. NZ has a rich history and all its peoples should be recognised. And names should be pronounceable and not too long - user friendly.
I hadn't forgotten the Dutch, and yes, Tasman should be better commemorated, but I am advocating for my ancestral heritage and leave it to others to toot their own horns.
Meads played ten Tests 1959-71 at Eden Park but surely Eden Park is synonymous with the 1981 Bok Tour and the Red Squad Perhaps it should be renamed the R Meurant Menorual Red Swuad Park
And let's not forget the disgraceful renaming of Von Tempsky St in Hamilton. As for anon@9.11, I can think of a local coastal sewage outfall that would be more appropriately named as mooted.
I really do not know why there is this extreme insistence on demanding name changes, all over the place except as part of the continuing march to maori tribal takeover.
I have looked at the station names for the new Auckland underground CRL. They are all in long maori names. I will not be using that train as I would have absolutely no idea where I was to get on or off. Why not just name the stations as their location?
Can we please just leave all the damned names alone? We’re fast becoming a nation of the terminally bewildered. We no longer know what or where anything is!
Anon@12.51, thank goodness all those Govt Depts have reverted to English names as the coalition dictated! And look there goes Santa - but sadly, no, just another damned pig flying south!
Anon re comment "bewildered"; how prescient of you , for as Euripides once said: 'Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad.'
To hope Akaroa survives with its French street names.
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