Anyone care to hazard a guess?

[ManDownUnder]

I believe that the whiteman he bring the spllin and writing with him.

Oh my God... noooooooo surely not. So what's the basis of "the missing 'h'" complaint then? It was only there for a tiny fraction of... the whole of forever!

[Swoop]

Just change it to WangaVegas, the same as all other small towns do.

[ManDownUnder]

I'd like to suggest the following changes to the Minister of Changing Placenames.

"Taupo" will henceforth become "Toe-Paw"
"Te Puke" Will be "Tee-puckky""
"Whangamomona" will be "Te Pub"

Any complaints...

[Mully]

Just change it to WangaVegas, the same as all other small towns do.

You mean, Whangavegas, of course.

[merv]

The problem with all this is why do Maori think that the way they want to spell things (given they never had a written language in the past) is the only way. We are meant to be a bicultural country so why cant it be Whanganui to the Maori and Wanganui to the whitey's and other ethnicities.

Hell, I just got back a wee while ago from my trip to Europe and my lovely daughter's wedding. Now Zurich was also Zuerich, Rome was Roma, Florence was Firenza, Naples was Napoli, London was Londres and no one gave a rats arse that the names were spelt differently and even spoken differently depending on who was doing the speaking.

Sharpen up you Maoris and start respecting other people's cultures and you might get more respect yourself. In the meantime it just comes across as whinging and singular demands.

[Headbanger]

Build a city, Name it as you will.

And everybody else be damned.

[Hitcher]

as to how much time, money and effort has been wasted (or otherwise) on the Wanganui/Whanganui debate?

An infinitesimal amount compared to what it will cost to change it.

[98tls]

An infinitesimal amount compared to what it will cost to change it.

Hey Hitch can you use words us downunder can understand please,possibly even spell it wrong or sumthin.

[idb]

So this sets the precedent that we have to standardise "maori spelling" across the country?

So we no need to be consistent and change Aoraki to Aorangi because after all that's just the way the suvvern maori speak...can of whuckin worms that is.

I'm also lacing the boot firmly to the other foot and demanding that the "w" in Renwick cease to be pronouced.

Hey Ken! Mr Mair!

Down here it will always be known as "Wakanui"

[98tls]

Down here it will always be known as "Wakanui"

Or "somewhere that matters not".

[Usarka]

There is also confusion on how to spell the mayors name. Many options have been put forward, lots are 4 letter words.

[idb]

There is also confusion on how to spell the mayors name. Many options have been put forward, lots are 4 letter words.

Isn't his name already a four letter word?

[Hitcher]

Hey Hitch can you use words us downunder can understand please

Sure can. I do requests.

[pete376403]

Will Burger King be renaming one of their products "Fopper"? MacDonalds be selling a "Whillet 'o Fish"?

[ynot slow]

According to local iwi in South Taranaki (one elder now 75yrs)told me about 10-15yrs ago after people were pc saying Tawhiti Rd was pronounced Tarfeety,that her tribe never emphasised the wh as f,stand corrected but she said it might be a Taranaki thing as wellshe never emphasised the lingo and even 20-25yrs ago was annoyed their kids didn't want to learn maori,they (kids)said waste of time.

As for Mair when he was in the navy he would play rugby for the europeans against ethnics,never played for ethnics,funny how politics change as you age,and want to be cool,at least Minto has always been against racism since year dot.