Cambridge given literary lecture

Cambridge should throw off its English heritage and start naming streets after Whale Rider's author rather than Harry Potter's, says an English-born resident.

John Marshall, a resident for 41 years, professes his love of the town. But he is dismayed that it has street names such as Queen, Victoria, and Duke Sts, but none with a Maori connection.

"People like me who immigrated left England because we didn't like the system there," said Mr Marshall. "That was what we wanted to get away from.

"New Zealand is a unique country. Here, a working man like myself was able to own a quarter-acre section and get a good education for our kids. New Zealand has such a proud heritage, but seems to be ashamed of its own history."

Mr Marshall is aggrieved a street in Leamington where he lives was recently named after Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. "I favour the Leamington tradition of naming streets after authors and poets, but I'm astounded at the failure to honour New Zealand's best."

In a letter tabled at a Cambridge Community Board meeting, Mr Marshall took issue with street-naming practices.

"I was disappointed and rather ashamed that your board gave preference to the English writer Rowling over any of our own first-class writers," he said.

"Is the board aware Witi Ihimaera is world famous because of Whale Rider? Is the board aware one of our greatest poets, Hone Tuwhare, has not been recognised?

"I suspect the board is still living in colonial times and is not willing to accept the vast pool of literary talent we have here."

Mr Marshall said there was an even more glaring omission. "We have a famous born-and-bred literary figure in Annamarie Jagose, educated at Cambridge High, but even she was not honoured."

Councillor Barbara Taranaki said the board decided to take note of what Mr Marshall had said, "if any names come up that are suitable".

Asked to expand on "suitability", Mrs Taranaki said: "Part of what we looked at was the need for street names where people can actually say the name.

"The Whale Rider one [Ihimaera] is a hard name to say."

Mrs Taranaki believes at least one Cambridge street already reflects Maori heritage. "Grace Ave has links. It is a Maori surname."

- NZPA