Kirikiriroa discussion scrapped
Hamilton’s mayor has backed down on a proposal to change the city council’s name.
Mayor Andrew King suggested looking into a name change to Kirikiriroa City Council in a bid to promote closer links with iwi.
What followed was a storm of public opinion - much of it against the move.
King withdrew his suggestion at a council meeting last week.
Media interest and public commentary ‘‘has gone far beyond looking at an idea’’, he said.
‘‘Our community has moved into debate before this council has even got to talk about the concept.’’
He acknowledged his colleagues’ view that this had become an unfortunate distraction from the long-term plan, and said it wasn’t his intention.
He also apologised that the idea came as a surprise to some councillors, and acknowledged strong and contrasting views.
‘‘This chair’s report was intended only as a starting point for a fuller discussion that we would have later in the year.’’
‘‘It is clear to me my colleagues feel further discussion on this subject at this time will divert attention from the ten-year plan and the important decisions we must make as a community. This is not the right time to be continuing with this item or considering this item.’’
Councillor Dave Macpherson had expected more speakers in the public gallery.
‘‘I’ve been waiting for all these people who have been discussing it ... to jump up and have their piece in this meeting. I’m really disappointed,’’ he said.
He applauded King raising the issue - thought the timing could have been better - and noted ‘‘angst-type discussions’’ tend to start whenever someone wants to change an English name to a Ma¯ori one.
Eighteen of the Waikato’s 24 towns have Ma¯ori names, he said.
Earlier, in the public forum, there were just three presentations.One was from the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union, which brought a person in a pig suit and a thick stack of petition papers with them to the meeting.