I want to say about something far greater than politics. I speak about identity, history, truth, and the name of our nation — the name by which the world has known us for generations: that is “New Zealand”.
Names matter.
A country’s name is not simply a word on a map. It is the banner under which generations have lived, worked, fought, sacrificed, built families, built communities, and built a nation. It is the name carried by our soldiers, our sports teams, our exporters, our passports, and our people across every corner of the world.
And that name is New Zealand.
For 383 years, since 1643, this land has been internationally recognised as New Zealand. When Abel Tasman and Dutch cartographer Joan Blaeu reported this discovery back to the States General — the Parliament of Holland — this land was given the name “New Zealand.” Since that time, through every generation, every law, every treaty, every map, and every international relationship, this country has been known as New Zealand.
That is not opinion. - That is historical fact.
Before European arrival, there was no single united Māori nation governing all the land, foreshore, offshore islands, and seabed of what we now know as New Zealand. Māori society was tribal in structure — iwi and hapū, each with their own territories, traditions, and identities.
There was no single nationwide Māori name that collectively described the entire landmass and surrounding territories of modern New Zealand.
That reality should not diminish Māori history or culture. Māori heritage is an important and treasured part of our nation. But respecting history also means being truthful about history.
The claim that “Aotearoa” has always been the name of the whole country is not supported by historical evidence.
The term “Aotearoa” gained wider use much later and was popularised in the late 19th century by S. Percy Smith, a European writer, through retellings and interpretations connected to his story of Kupe. It was not historically established as a unified national name covering all of modern New Zealand in pre-European times.
And so I say this clearly:
> New Zealand is not a colonial insult.
> New Zealand is not something to be ashamed of.
> New Zealand is the name under which this nation was built.
It is the name under which Māori, European, Pacific peoples, Asians, and countless migrants from around the world came together to create one of the finest countries on Earth.
We are New Zealanders.
Not because of race.
Not because of ancestry.
But because we share a nation, a history, a future, and a common identity.
Changing or replacing our country’s name is not a small symbolic gesture. It risks dividing people where unity is needed most. It risks rewriting history instead of understanding it. And it risks disconnecting future generations from the name that has united this country for centuries.
A mature nation does not erase its past.
A mature nation acknowledges all parts of its history honestly and proudly.
We can honour Māori culture without rewriting historical fact.
We can celebrate te reo Māori without abandoning the internationally recognised name of our nation.
We can walk together as one people without pretending history was something it was not.
This country belongs to every New Zealander equally.
And the name that unites us — the name recognised throughout the world — the name carried through war, peace, hardship, triumph, and generations of shared endeavour — is New Zealand.
Let us protect it.
Let us preserve it.
Let us proudly stand beneath it.
Not divided.
Not rewritten.
But united as one people, under one enduring name: NEW ZEALAND.
If you agree then I ask you to please SHARE the letter onto others.
Source: Email / Social Media
And that name is New Zealand.
For 383 years, since 1643, this land has been internationally recognised as New Zealand. When Abel Tasman and Dutch cartographer Joan Blaeu reported this discovery back to the States General — the Parliament of Holland — this land was given the name “New Zealand.” Since that time, through every generation, every law, every treaty, every map, and every international relationship, this country has been known as New Zealand.
That is not opinion. - That is historical fact.
Before European arrival, there was no single united Māori nation governing all the land, foreshore, offshore islands, and seabed of what we now know as New Zealand. Māori society was tribal in structure — iwi and hapū, each with their own territories, traditions, and identities.
There was no single nationwide Māori name that collectively described the entire landmass and surrounding territories of modern New Zealand.
That reality should not diminish Māori history or culture. Māori heritage is an important and treasured part of our nation. But respecting history also means being truthful about history.
The claim that “Aotearoa” has always been the name of the whole country is not supported by historical evidence.
The term “Aotearoa” gained wider use much later and was popularised in the late 19th century by S. Percy Smith, a European writer, through retellings and interpretations connected to his story of Kupe. It was not historically established as a unified national name covering all of modern New Zealand in pre-European times.
And so I say this clearly:
> New Zealand is not a colonial insult.
> New Zealand is not something to be ashamed of.
> New Zealand is the name under which this nation was built.
It is the name under which Māori, European, Pacific peoples, Asians, and countless migrants from around the world came together to create one of the finest countries on Earth.
We are New Zealanders.
Not because of race.
Not because of ancestry.
But because we share a nation, a history, a future, and a common identity.
Changing or replacing our country’s name is not a small symbolic gesture. It risks dividing people where unity is needed most. It risks rewriting history instead of understanding it. And it risks disconnecting future generations from the name that has united this country for centuries.
A mature nation does not erase its past.
A mature nation acknowledges all parts of its history honestly and proudly.
We can honour Māori culture without rewriting historical fact.
We can celebrate te reo Māori without abandoning the internationally recognised name of our nation.
We can walk together as one people without pretending history was something it was not.
This country belongs to every New Zealander equally.
And the name that unites us — the name recognised throughout the world — the name carried through war, peace, hardship, triumph, and generations of shared endeavour — is New Zealand.
Let us protect it.
Let us preserve it.
Let us proudly stand beneath it.
Not divided.
Not rewritten.
But united as one people, under one enduring name: NEW ZEALAND.
If you agree then I ask you to please SHARE the letter onto others.
Source: Email / Social Media
10 comments:
Not to mention the fact that “Aotearoa” looks too similar to “Australia”. We often fret how similar our national flags look - how would we like to further complicate things by having a similar looking name as well?
And yes - I have no problem telling “Australia” and “Austria” apart either, but these two countries are far apart on the Workd map. Australia and NZ, not so much.
We (the Dutch) never colonised NZ so the name Nieuw Zeeland (as it is written in Dutch) cannot be construed as a "colonial insult". (Smart guy was old Abel T - took one look at the locals and thought, "Stuff this, I'm outa here......)
Only the North Island was recognised in the 1835 Declaration of Independence, and Hobson applied the ToW only to the NI in 1840. A strong case can be made for the name Aotearoa applying only to the NI.
I live in the North Island and refuse to recognise the A word.
Another historical fact :
Maori built nothing permanent on these islands - nothing, nada, zip.
It was the Europeans who arrived and transformed this land to the equivalent of territories elsewhere which have evolved for thousands of years.
This country deserves the name given to it by its builders, not a name that Maori never gave it.
Rubbish BV. if there was a so called strong case for the Nth Island to be called Aotearoa you would have expanded it .
New Zealand is the correct and only name for our southern nation.
The naming of our country after the Dutch province of Zeeland, known for its islands, peninsulas, and history of battling the sea, is appropriate on several levels. As well as the physical similarities with the original, why not pay tribute to the first intrepid explorers to bring knowledge of this land to the civilised & literate world?
Basil, my point was that 'Aotearoa' can only be applied to the NI and accordingly does not qualify as the name for the whole of NZ.
Barend, you sound like an academic not a New Zelaander. This word has already been adopted by real kiwis and become part of the lexicon. It is uniquely kiwi and as with the National Anthem is widely embraced. Luddites and fear mongers may abhor change, but it is here and has been here for a fair old while now. And kiwis love it.
Anon 702, I was adopting a historical approach to the name, on which basis it refers to the NI and not the SI and therefore not to all of NZ. It is, however, fair to claim as you do that the name has, rightly or wrongly, become part of many NZers' lexicon. None of this makes me a Luddite or a fear-monger, just a guy who has a penchant for language and likes words to have precise meanings so that we can communicate effectively.
I suggest next time anyone from this country who are overseas, declare themselves at every opportunity (written and spoken) to officials or border control authorities they are from the country some people refer as "Aotearoa".
In fact, I dare them to refuse to acknowledge the official name of "New Zealand".
I really don't know what the result will be, but I'd like to see it tested.
Preferably when the situation is urgent.
Just be prepared for a long wait or some form of detainment.
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