Paul Hickey: Changes are name of the game

LOVE ME DO: Our columnist Paul reckons his parents got his name just right - he doesn't feel like a Ringo, George or John.PHOTO/FILE

What's in a name? A heck of a lot really, especially when it comes to your own given name. I'm fine with Paul; I couldn't really imagine myself as a John or a George, and definitely not a Ringo. With our kids, our son was always going to be Joel. But our daughter was either going to be Madison or Destiny. When she was born, it took Katie just one look to decide she was definitely a Destiny and not a Madison.

Apparently your personality can even be dictated by your name, and we all even subconsciously relate to this. Have you ever had one of those moments when someone tells you what they are going to name their baby, and it sends a shiver down your spine because you already know someone with that name and you don't like them?

When it comes to business entities, it seems to be the season for name changes - or as it is referred to in the business world, "rebranding".

I've been through a couple this year with the name change of the radio station to the The Hits and then more recently our company changing from The Radio Network to NZME.

Then last week it came as a bit of a surprise to most that the Rotorua District Council voted to change its operating name to Rotorua Lakes Council. This has certainly caused a bit of a debate about the district (or should that be lakes?).

My first reaction is it sounds like they now only look after the lakes, but I'll bite my tongue for now and fence sit.

Still on the name thing; where has the creativity gone with event names in Rotorua? Don't get me wrong, it's great that there is so much happening. But we've got the Fire & Ice Winter Festival, New Year's Glo Festival, the Running Festival, The Garden Festival, The MTB Festival, the Tulip Festival, and now it's been announced we're having a Food & Wine Festival and a Festival of Rugby League. Get my drift? Thank goodness for the Canadians giving us something a bit original called Crankworx!

As an aside, how cool must it be for Ngongotaha's Dean Whare who plays for Penrith? To be able to play an NRL game in his hometown will be a really special occasion for sure.

Just a week to go before our big 2014 Rotorua Daily Post & The Hits 97.5 Food Drive for The Salvation Army Foodbank. It's all hands to the pump next Monday night, with teams in Ngongotaha, Western Heights and Springfield, so listen out for us after 6pm, or if you live outside these areas, why not take a drive and come and join the food drive anyway, the more the merrier for a great cause!

-Paul Hickey is the host of the locally based 9am-3pm show on The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM. Follow on Facebook The Hits Rotorua and on Twitter @PaulH515