Ruth Walton
I have had a response to my letter to the New Zealand Geographic Board. Roger Handford is correct. The signage at the entrance to Gisborne is in breach of NZ Transport Agency rules. It is illegal solely because the name Turanganui a Kiwa is not and never has been approved by the NZ Geographic Board or the authority, Land Information NZ, as an alternative name for this district.
I want to be quite clear here. I am not averse to New Zealand’s Maori culture, neither here nor anywhere else in the country. I am proud to be a New Zealander. I am proud that I belong to this district, with all that entails.
What I am averse to is being bullied.
Feeling bullied by Gisborne District Council and Mayor Meng Foon has empowered me.
I want the people of this district to know they have a voice.
The unlawful signage is one thing. Putting this name-change proposal forward without proper consultation with the people of Gisborne is amoral and deceitful.
What you councillors have done is stirred the animosity of the community by highlighting many things you have instigated, like erecting the carvings on land gifted to Gisborne by the Lysnar family. This was done without consultation, overnight and in secret — it was certainly done without permission. Although they are beautiful and look amazing, I believe their placement is also in breach.
You are not encouraging the restoration of the Endeavour replicas.
You have erected signage with a name that is not legal, and now you are wanting to change the very name that we are best known by internationally.
You risk losing peoples’ respect and their votes. You have divided this community unnecessarily.
As our representatives, you have greatly underestimated the people of this district. Relying on an online survey was not consulting us. Even though the majority voted “No”, you went ahead with your proposal.
You should have sought our individual opinion using the proper democratic process. You should have carried out a referendum. You should have done what the Hamilton Mayor has done.
In order to comply, these signs will need to be changed or removed at yet more expense to us the ratepayers. By all means, a sign or something acknowledging Kiwa placed at Kaiti Beach, or wherever it was he actually landed, would be wonderful.
Judy Campbell, in her condescending column, has judged all of those opposed to a dual name as men. She has underestimated the opinion of many women. How dare she admonish those who have a right to their opinion.
The New Zealand Geographic Board meets on April 12 when it will discuss the proposal put forward by the Mayor. The NZGB has said in its letter that the proposal put forward by the GDC seeks to alter Poverty Bay to a dual name. It emphasises in its letter that this proposal is for the water feature only (ie the bay) — not the region or province or any other land-based name.
If the board supports the proposal it will invite submissions from all New Zealanders and Gisborne ratepayers, for and against. People can write a letter or email: NZGBsubmissions@linz.govt.nz
There will be public notices through the media to let people know this is happening.
The NZGB states in its letter that at its upcoming meeting on April 12 it could decline the proposal outright.
Don’t give up Mike. You are inspirational. You are not a racist — neither am I. You just want what the majority of us want — democracy. Seems you also have been bullied.