Wanganui ?H? users adamant they won?t change

Local government has failed Wanganui if we don't spell the city with an h. That's the comment from Te Tai Hauauru MP Tariana Turia who has hit out at Wanganui councillors for failing to show leadership and recognising their role in the correct spelling of the Maori word, Whanganui. She said she was disappointed that they did not take up the challenge to "prepare for our future by bringing unity for our children." "I look forward to the day when we can have respect for each other and for each other's culture ? then, and only then, will we be able to move forward together." Mrs Turia said she was "bitterly disappointed but not surprised" at the referendum results and found it bizarre that a word that has so much significance to Whanganui iwi was even put up for a referendum in the first place. "Whanganui ? with an h ? is the name of our awa, the name of our people; and is imbued with great meaning." She said Whanganui iwi would continue to use the correct spelling because without it, the name is meaningless. Over half of Wanganui voted in the referendum which is not binding, for the "h" to be excluded from the spelling of the city but which defines the Whanganui River and Whanganui region. However Mayor Michael Laws, delighted by the referendum outcome, commented in yesterday's Chronicle that it was now appropriate for the organisations that spell their name Whanganui, to reconsider their spelling. The Chronicle approached several organisations that go by the name of Whanganui and asked them if they would heed the mayor's suggestion. Iwi cultural adviser to the River Queen Gerrard Albert, said from an iwi perspective the referendum does not change anything. "Whanganui is a Maori word and we will always spell it that way. To spell it without an "h" is an anglicised bastardisation of a Maori word." In reply to Mayor Laws comments that people have attempted by stealth to re-spell Wanganui Mr Albert said he thought the mayor was getting carried away. "If organisations see fit to spell it that way to carry the full meaning and expression of a Maori word, then they should be left to do that." Mr Albert said those who wanted the change to include the "h" were not proponents of the referendum, and those who did return their papers were all going to vote for the status quo. He said the referendum pandered to those who saw the inclusion of the "h" as a threat and 54-55 percent who voted in the referendum was not a true representation of the Wanganui populace. Director of the Whanganui Regional Museum Sharon Dell said the museum is and has been since 1895 an independent charitable trust and the council would have to consult with the governance board to make any changes. "The museum is regional and Whanganui is the correct spelling after the region. "We have a tikanga Maori House and a Pacific House. The Whanganui iwi and hapu whakapapa to the river and it is a very important relationship to us as iwi are an integral part of our governance." Ms Dell said the inclusion of the "h" was voted at the 1992 annual meeting. Judith Timpany who is the Whanganui Community Foundation executive director said she was disappointed but not surprised at the result. "Since the Pakaitore/Moutoa Gardens occupation we have made significant strides forward? the inclusion of the "h" to correct the spelling would have been another step forward."