Library name gifted to council

Before the earthquakes we had the Christchurch Public Library in Gloucester St. I note in Tuesday’s paper that its replacement is to be Tu¯ ranga, with not even an English subtitle. I have no idea what a Tu¯ ranga is.

Overseas visitors walking past will have no idea that it is the main library. Which Einstein in our city council came up with this dumb idea in an effort to pander to political correctness?

Brian Smith, Cashmere

Christchurch City Council Head of Libraries and Information Carolyn Robertson responds:

The name Tu¯ ranga was gifted to Christchurch City Council by Te Nga¯ i Tu¯ a¯ huriri Ru¯ nanga and reflects the relationship with Whitireia, the traditional name for Cathedral Square. In oral tradition, Whitireia was the name of the house of Paikea, the ancestor who travelled here on the back of a whale. Tu¯ ranga was where his house was located, so the name honours the Ma¯ ori tradition while reflecting the library’s new location in the heart of the city. The council made the decision to have only ‘Tu¯ ranga’ displayed above both entrances to the building, but with ‘Central Library’ added to both of the way-finding totems located close to the entrances. This ensures the building’s purpose is clear to visitors. meat, stop consuming our dairy products, and stop flying to the ‘‘Land of the Long White Cloud’’.

We need to change now. Let’s ditch the cows. We can produce protein either through cropping or biotechnology. And as for tourism, perhaps we should be putting our eggs in other baskets.

Tony Kettle, Fendalton