I really enjoyed the article on the correct pronunciation of te reo and the stories around place names which are hidden when we mispronounce them (News, September 16).
I applaud Sonny Ngatai on his efforts and attitude toward those of us who so often get it wrong. As he says, it is a difficult process learning to get one's tongue to correctly navigate unfamiliar sounds.
All of this brings me to Te Ahi Tupua and the various attempts to justify the cost, the positioning on a busy roundabout, and a continuance of the proven ability of our council to utilise precious local funding on grandiose visual monuments to its own achievements.
The editorial by Zizi Sparks (Opinion, September 16) comparing it to the Eiffel Tower was timely and made me think that perhaps when the tourists come back we could close that stretch of road for say two days a week and charge for sight-seeing trips from the centre of town, thus recharging council coffers.
Perhaps too, we should look at renaming it Te Hemo because this is easier for my Pākehā tongue and overused rememberer.
