Has the time come for Epuni School to become Te Puni?
Lower Hutt’s Epuni School is considering a name change that more accurately reflects the correct spelling of paramount chief Hōniana Te Puni.
The possible name change came after the Wellington City Council corrected Epuni St in Aro Valley to Hōniana Te Puni St, in honour of the Te Āti Awa leader who played a major role in the development of early Wellington.
The Geographic Board is also currently considering a proposal to correct the spelling of Petone.
Epuni principal Janet Evans confirmed the school had recently approached parents to get their view on a name change.
She said the school has gone through a long process.
“We have not agreed to change it yet. We are in the process of doing it. The board has been working on this for six or seven years.”
The school had consulted widely with Māori, and its pupils had also been involved in the process.
Te Āti Awa elder Liz Mellish welcomed the school’s move.
Te Puni was a major figure, having played a leading role in the development of Wellington City and offered support to the European settlers who arrived in 1840.
He was also a signatory to the Treaty of Waitangi and she said his support for European settlers enabled Wellington to become the capital city.
Spelling his name correctly is a courtesy and she said nobody liked to have their name spelt incorrectly.
Students at the school have been encouraged to research Te Puni and the early history linked to the school’s location in Fairfield.
“Te Puni was an influential person in his day and the kids were excited to find out that history.”
She concedes that some people do not like change and changing a school name is a major undertaking. Former pupils identify with the name Epuni and it will also have financial implications.
“The board felt that is not a good reason not to do it, because it is the right thing to do,” Evans said.
The school roll is 30% Māori and she agreed with Mellish that spelling Te Puni’s name correctly was a courtesy.
She noted, however, that vasrious sources confirmed that Te Puni used Epuni as a name.
The nearby suburb of Petone has a Te Puni St.
Mellish believes that Hōniana Te Puni should be more well known. He played a major role in the development of Wellington City and received a state funeral when he died.
“They [the European settlers who arrived in 1840] came off the ship smelly and unwell and he looked after them and fed them.”
The possible name change has wider implications for the Lower Hutt suburb of Epuni and a street named Epuni, near the Hutt Hospital. There is also Epuni Station as well as the Epuni shops.
In response to questions about the spelling of Epuni, the council issued a short written statement,
“Hutt City Council supports moves to correct names that are incorrectly spelt. On the matter of the spelling of Epuni St and Epuni the suburb, we are up for a thorough discussion with mana whenua to gain their insight.”
The Epuni Boys Home, infamous for sexual and physical abuse, was closed in 2001 and is just now called Epuni.