Letters to the editor: New Zealand is a valuable brand name

New Zealand is a valuable brand name, writes a reader. Photo / Getty Images

Rob Rattenbury's commentary (Comment, October 1) about being relaxed in changing the name to Aotearoa was helpful in reinforcing my view that no way should we be called anything other than New Zealand. The rationale was extremely narrow.

New Zealand is the name that has been internationally used since Captain Cook 250 years ago, plus another 130 back to Abel Tasman.

Indeed around 1840, the people who today are called Māori were referred to as New Zealanders by Pākehā who saw themselves as their own country of origin – mainly British. The Treaty established that we are all one people.

We have an international reputation as New Zealanders going back over that period including the flag and the sacrifices two World Wars plus other skirmishes which are equally important if you lost a member of your family.

New Zealand is a valuable brand name just like the All Blacks. We have enough difficulties without having to re-establish who we are.

Aotearoa is a name that has been around all my life is okay too, but only for within our country.

I too welcome our history being given more prominence in schools once again as it was in the 1950s, provided it is not sanitised.

Bill Capamagian
Tauranga

Hungry for normal life

As this dreadful Covid time in our history drags on and on, we who have had our injections are getting impatient to return to normal.

Too bad if one has friends or loved ones up the road in Auckland.

Why should we be separated when we have had our injections, as goods and much-needed services are held up at this manufactured border?

Poor forward planning and restrictions at this division between here and Auckland.

We now know what it must be like for the people in Korea with loved ones just across the border whom they cannot see or connect with.

Never mind if we have had both injections, we are all hungry for a normal life. These punitive lockdowns are getting unbearable.

Never mind if one's husband has had a stroke, or another waiting for a deferred hip operation or cancer treatment; or has had a dog attack and is injured and hospitalised.

We all have to wait for the, in my view, uncaring or irresponsible to be hounded up for their vaccinations.

Maybe they don't want to have a vaccination and that is their choice but please don't keep locking us down with no real urgent way out.

Margaret Murray-Benge
Bethlehem

Sign language should be acknowledged

We have just been saturated with te reo, one of our official languages, during Māori Language Week with a significant run on TV One.

The other official language, Sign, will I hope be accorded the same level of acknowledgment.

Although Mandarin is not official, nor are any of the Pacifica languages being spoken in cultural pockets, would it not be a banner-waving situation if, we, as a nation could take this on board as part of our egalitarian practice?
(Abridged)

AD Kirby
Pāpāmoa

Reader: Consider non-Māori

Our Human Rights Commission has recently reaffirmed that the Treaty of Waitangi provides for our indigenous people to have "absolute sovereignty".

This statement is not new but alerted me to real concern that our nation's future will forever be fraught with arguments on racial rights unless it is adequately attended to.

In my view, Māori people will continue to be dissatisfied if they don't achieve in their lifetime their version of absolute sovereignty.

Māori leaders regularly promote "my people" and "by Māori for Māori" seemingly with no consideration for other perspectives.

That is their right and we can be grateful for such honesty and focus. But are other non-Māori beliefs adequately defended?

I consider it overdue for our leadership to seriously task whether or not absolute sovereignty or complete independence for one race is possible in our democratic country – and if so how it would operate and be funded.

If such matters are not dealt with, separatism will accelerate. Positive and progressive action is required to enable our nation to grow – not fester.

Ian Waugh
Rotorua