14 September 2020
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Maori Party announcement re re-naming of NZ and place names
Enquiry
Following the Māori Party policy announcement made by Waiariki candidate Rawiri Waititi this morning (and in Rotorua at 1pm) I am looking for some reaction.
I have linked the article below which gives you a more comprehensive understanding of what is being done, but some of the big hitters are changing New Zealand to Aotearoa and other pākehā place names to te reo Māori.
Response
Reporter was advised that the mayor's comment related only to the proposed name change for NZ
From Mayor Steve Chadwick re proposed name change for NZ:
I support the wider and everyday use and learning of te reo Maori - which is a key part of our Rotorua ReoRua bilingual kaupapa. There seems to be increasing use and acceptance of the use of Aotearoa New Zealand' or vice versa, so I think it is an interesting proposal and a great conversation for our country to have.
