Tribunal demands ‘h’ for Wanganui

THE row over the ‘‘h’’ in Whanganui could be reignited by legislation making its correct spelling a condition of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement with local iwi.

The Waitangi Tribunal has weighed in on the long-running issue in a report on Whanganui land claims.

In a letter to Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell, inquiry presiding officer Judge Carrie Wainwright said the tribunal believed the Crown should overturn its recent decision to allow ‘‘Wanganui’’ as a legitimate spelling in addition to ‘‘Whanganui’’, as it had been established as a ‘‘simple misspelling’’.

‘‘They are not equally legitimate. One is right and one is wrong.’’

Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox said yesterday the tribunal was right – and ensuring the correct spelling would likely be addressed as part of the settlement process, including legislation reflecting the tribunal’s recommendation.

And it should not stop there, Fox said. A bunch of Maori place names around the country needed correcting, starting with Rimutaka, which was correctly spelt Remutaka, she said.

‘‘Remutaka has a whole story behind it. Rimutaka implies the falling of the rimu tree, no, that’s not the story – so if we get the names right the history follows.’’

Judge Wainwright said Maori in Whanganui should have control over their own language, given the need to preserve their culture.

‘‘As regards Whanganui, we conclude that tangata whenua should control their own language, and specifically the spelling of names in their rohe (tribal area).’’

The debate over the ‘‘h’’ has raged for years, with Whanganui residents voting against a change in a 2006 referendum.

Supporters of a change said ‘‘Wanganui’’ was a misspelling that stripped meaning from the Maori name, while opponents said Wanganui had been the city’s name for 150 years.

Former mayor Michael Laws was an ardent opponent of adding the ‘‘h’’, saying it was against the wishes of local residents, while Runanga o Tupoho iwi spokesman Ken Mair said the change was needed ‘‘to show respect to our name’’.

In 2008, the Government passed legislation allowing both Wanganui and Whanganui to be used for official geographic matters.

The issue has reared its head again this year, with the New Zealand Geographic Board consulting on whether to add an ‘‘h’’ to the name of the Wanganui District. The consultation process was started after Wanganui District Council asked the board last December to add the ‘‘h’’ to the district’s name.