Locals focus on mall over spelling debate
Wainuiomata residents are more focused on their rundown mall, than in debating an alternative spelling suggested for their suburb.
Wainui-O-mata has been proposed as an alternative by Mike Grigg, who is standing for the community board and would like to create a debate over the spelling and correct pronunciation.
‘‘I don’t want to be at every community board meeting and be saying point of order Mr Chairman you have spelt Wainui-O-mata wrong.’’
It has proved a hot topic on a number on social media sites with most people either neutral or against.
Waiwhetu Marae chairman Kura Moeahu dismissed the alternative suggestion and doubted it would get much support from local Maori. ’’I don’t have a problem with it.’’
Facebook readers Natasha Mills agreed.
‘‘Please don’t waste the community’s money on this. What it needs is the council to get the owners of the mall to sell it to some one who cares about our community. Action, not words, I like say.’’
Junior Motu Paseen was also more concerned about the mall. ’’All this fuss about the name when you should be fussing about the so called Wainui Mall and it’s pothole car park ... come on!’’
Glenn Fellingham was another who commented on the mall.
‘‘There was once a time where Wainui, Wainuiomata, or Wainui-O-mata had a mall full of varied shops. Today it is a sad site …it would be so good to see something positive done with the mall.’’
Charissa Garrett had some blunt advice for Grigg.
‘‘Our town has had the same name for how many years and now it’s an issue, come on...I can just imagine the costs of changing the signs in and around our community and it would be ridiculous and better spent elsewhere. Focus on more relevant issues that will benefit Wainuiomata as a whole Mike.’’
Jenny Pollett did not hold back either. ’’There are far more important issues for council to expend their energies and ratepayer funds over than this!’’
Mayor Ray Wallace said he was prepared to refer the matter to the Geographic Board if there was enough local support.
He suspected that for most locals, a name change was not a high priority.