Statue attack sparks street name review
A hammer attack on a statue has prompted the city council to explore cultural sensitivities around street names.
But the commissioning of a high level report into Hamilton city streets and parks has some Hamilton city councillors infuriated.
As a result of Taitimu Maipi’s vandalism of the Captain Hamilton statue last August, Hamilton Mayor Andrew King raised the issue of the ‘‘cultural appropriateness of the naming and recognition of colonial figures in the city’’.
In his chairman’s report to a meeting of the full council on Thursday, King moved a motion to have staff work with Waikato-Tainui to provide a report into cultural sensitivity of names of council controlled sites. Councillors voted in favour of the motion, seven votes to six.
During the public forum, Waikato Tainui communications manager Jason Ake, told councillors many street names in the city, like Von Tempsky, Bryce and Grey, are a daily reminder of the 1860s invasion of Waikato and the resultant 1.2 million hectare land confiscation.
Waikato-Tainui will pay half the cost of the report, expected to be less than $10,000.
But Cr Garry Mallett said the motivation behind the report is a result of Maipi’s actions and that’s wrong.
‘‘I am very, very, concerned this was triggered by the actions of a thug who assaulted and vandalised one of our pieces of public art,’’ Mallett said. ‘‘I think it is appalling that this guy then gained an audience with councillors which we weren’t allowed to speak at.’’
In February, Maipi addressed a briefing of elected members calling for a change in what he described as offensive street names and for Hamilton to be renamed Kirikiriroa.
Cr Siggi Henry said it takes an act of civil disobedience to start a discussion.
‘‘I do understand the feelings about seeing historical figures on street signs,’’ Henry, a native of Germany, said. ‘‘There is no Hitler St, no Hitler Pl, no Hitler City in Germany and if there was I think the Germans would have ripped it down, pulled it apart and destroyed it very quickly.
Cr Mark Bunting didn’t like the protest action but voted in favour of the motion to get more information.
‘‘Go and smash a statue, get attention, turn up to a meeting, get [councillors] gagged, get a hearing in the paper and gather this momentum. What’s it built on? I don’t like that,’’ Bunting said. I applaud Ma¯ ngai Ma¯ ori (council committee members) for the way they’ve come in and debated. I like constructive
conversation, on the other hand.’’
Cr James Casson said the comparison between Hitler and Von Tempsky, Bryce and Grey is ludicrous.
‘‘We also have a street name Ford.
‘‘Are we going to change that too because Holden owners might be upset?
‘‘We have to stop this madness here and now otherwise we run the risk of every person with an axe to grind to dictate where we go as a city and as a council.’’
Cr Dave Macpherson said the fear mongering is unjustified.
‘‘When the New Zealand Geographic Board changed the name of Mt Egmont – a guy who had never come anywhere near New Zealand – to Mt Taranaki, which was its traditional name, the sun came up the next morning,’’ Macpherson said.
King said history shows political activism has its place in society – like the 1773 Boston Tea Party, first major act of defiance to British rule on the path to US independence.
‘‘It won’t go away,’’ King said. ‘‘It will come back in three election cycles’ time.
‘‘It takes beginning a conversation in an official way. I understand your reservations but I also believe the tide has turned in New Zealand and the way these things are looked at is in a balanced way and that’s happened very quickly.’’
In favour of the motion were mayor Andrew King, Deputy Mayor Martin Gallagher, Crs Paula Southgate, Mark Bunting, Dave Macpherson, Angela O’Leary and Siggi Henry.
Crs Ryan Hamilton, Geoff Taylor, James Casson, Leo Tooman, Garry Mallett and Rob Pascoe dissented.