Calls for Cromwell to be renamed
Some residents of a Central Otago town that bears the name of an English tyrant and military leader want to ditch its name.
Cromwell, a town of 5440, was named after the controversial political and military leader Oliver Cromwell as a result, according to local legend, of a ‘‘curse’’ by an Irish surveyor in 1863.
Cromwell led the Parliament of England’s armies against King Charles I during the English Civil War and was responsible for the slaughter and forced deportation of thousands of Irish civilians during the English invasion which he led in the mid-1600s.
Questions over Cromwell have resurfaced overseas recently, with renewed calls for a statue of Oliver Cromwell to be removed from outside the Houses of Parliament in London.
The call comes after antiracism protesters in Bristol tore down a bronze statue of prominent 17th century slave trader Edward Colston last week.
Similar demonstrations are taking place in New Zealand with the Hamilton City Council removing Captain John Hamilton’s statue on Friday.
While the town does not have a statue of Cromwell, a large portrait hangs in the council chambers. Cromwell resident Ben Deegan, who has Irish roots, said there was more than enough reason for Cromwell to be renamed. ‘‘The name itself is a monument to someone responsible for thousands of deaths, with no bearing on anything here in New Zealand. We are all living on indigenous land, and we should both embrace and respect that.’’
Cromwell Community Board deputy chair Werner Murray said given the ‘‘huge shift we have had globally’’ it was worth having a conversation about the town’s name and origins. ‘‘Perhaps there is merit in looking to te reo Ma¯ ori for naming.’’
Cromwell Community Board member Robin Dicey, speaking on his own behalf, questioned whether changing Cromwell’s name would expunge history and why Cromwell should be singled out. ‘‘Auckland is named after a chap who made disastrous decisions as the Viceroy of India. Should the name of our biggest city then also be changed? And what also of Napier? And both Greymouth and Greytown are named after Sir George Grey who was responsible for some extraordinarily racist legislation in Australia. Should both of these also have their names changed?’’
Board member Cheryl Laws said Cromwell’s name should stay. ‘‘This town has had that name for over 150 years and developed an identity of its own.’’
Central Otago District Council deputy mayor and Cromwell community board member Neil
Cromwell resident Ben Deegan
Gillespie said the town’s heritage was important.
‘‘There will be range of views ... they all have some validity to some extent ... Where do you start and stop? That’s what I struggle with. The important thing is as long as we are not reflecting those behaviours and practices – is that not the most important part?’’
Cromwell Museum records show the town was originally known as The Point or Junction.It was first surveyed in 1863 by JA Connell of the firm Connell and Moodie, of Dunedin.
‘‘The name itself is a monument to someone responsible for thousands of deaths, with no bearing on anything here in New Zealand.’’