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Wanganui or Whanganui ?

52 replies · 1,228 views
over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Wanganui or Whanganui ?
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Just announced it's going to be Whanganui in the future. I personally would have gone with what the locals had voted for, after all, they live there.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
So you would have changed the name of the river that has flowed through there for eternity and was named by a people who have resided in the area longer than European man??

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Right decision. Now to watch Michael Laws start spewing pure venom...
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
C-Diddy wrote:
So you would have changed the name of the river that has flowed through there for eternity and was named by a people who have resided in the area longer than European man??
 
If that is what the locals had voted for. If they had voted for the other, then i would be happy to have accepted that too. The river name was never changed.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Who are "the locals" though LG? The Ratepayers or the traditional owners of the land???

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I don't want to be rude, but who cares.
 
Small town, small issue, small minds.
 
In essence this is a question of spelling, not renaming.  People getting very upset over absolutely f*ck all.

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
o whellington
is whonderful!
 
it should be Te Whanganui a tara phoenix tbf

Salmon swim upstream

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I personally wanted Whanganui, but supported keeping it as Wanganui until when/if the people who actually live there and have to live with the decision wanted to make the change theirselves.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
who really cares, the town is still the same, just the name actually reflects the original maori meaning - "large/big harbour"

Queenslander 3x a year.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
i live there and do not really care either way.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
What will the gangs do about their patches now?
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
They cant spell anyway Stefan so I dont suspect they'll notice!

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
In favor of the change
particularly pleased to see Panty-Waist crying on TV , then claiming it's racist.

to think people voted this clown in, if you made him up it would be award winning script.

E's Flat Ah's Flat Too

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Not fussed either way, but Whanganui makes it consistent. The best thing about it is seeing the Mayor and his self-righteousness (a.k.a. arrogance and hubris) reach new heights of delusion.

It's only a place name and only one letter. It's not like they've decided to change the spelling of Laws to Jumped-up-prat. Yet.

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Salmon07 wrote:
o whellington
is whonderful!

�

it should be Te Whanganui a tara phoenix tbf


Oh Te Whanganui-a-tara is wonderful/kapai
Oh Te Whanganui-a-tara is wonderful/kapai

We've got the wind, the rain and... Oh it's half time already.

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
foal30 wrote:
To think people voted this clown in, if you made him up it would be award winning script.
 
Classic comment, but also scarey. You are quite right, If he heard about your message hHe'd have to be technical advisor if they made it into a movie.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Lonegunmen wrote:
Just announced it's going to be Whanganui in the future. I personally would have gone with what the locals had voted for, after all, they live there.


Bit ahead of yourself LG.  Final decision is left to the Minister of Land Information (Maurice Williamson).
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I live in Whanganui St in Miramar.  When giving my address in person or over the phone i pronounce the street name with a "F".  Often people will ask how to spell it.  I say "Wanganui with a h" & they instantly know!!
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
If your name was "Michel" or "Cris" It's not spelt wrong, that's your name. You don't go and change it how ever many years later to reflect what ever one else has got.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
But if it was misspelt on your birth certificate, you wouldn't want to correct the error?
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Wongo wrote:
I live in Whanganui St in Miramar.  When giving my address in person or over the phone i pronounce the street name with a "F".  Often people will ask how to spell it.  I say "Wanganui with a h" & they instantly know!!
 
there's no f- in whanganui
 
no f- in phoenix either

Salmon swim upstream

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

The only reason I wanted the 'h' put in was that it pissed off Michael Laws. He is such a f*cking clown. By the way, he didn't say it was racist, he actually said it was rachist (that's what I heard on 3news last night), rather ironic that he misspoke a word by putting an 'h' in there.

Now the Government has stated they will take into account the Geographic Board's desicion as well as the referendum, but as Tariana Turia wonderfully pointed out on Campbell Live last night, they've just ignored one referendum's results so why would they listen to this particular one?

 

Paulinho2009-09-18 12:07:09
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
This is a complete non-issue.  Who cares?  Imo, they should just change it from Wanganui to Wang - would give us all a lol and hopefully Michael Laws wouldn't like it.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
quite clearly the towns people didn't want the change, 70% voted for leaving it as wanganui! so the people who voted M Laws into power will be just as annoyed as he is.....just proves the referendums are really a waste of time and tax payer's money

Queenslander 3x a year.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
My Aussie wife asked me why Maori placenames spelled with a 'Wh' have an f sound.
 
I could not answer.
 
Anyone?
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Look it up on Whikipedia, Kiwi Pie!

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
While pronunciation varies, <wh> generally denotes a bilabial fricative [?], a sound comparable to that of an "f" articulated by putting the lips together as if to make a "w" sound; today[update] the labiodental [f] also occurs, possibly as a result of influence from English.[14] M?ori <r>, a tap, [?], resembles the <r> in Spanish or the t in the American English pronunciation of "city".

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Didn't understand a whucking word of that.
 
gtwho Diddy.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
kiwi pie wrote:
Didn't understand a whucking word of that.
 
gtwho Diddy.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
So in summary...
 
A taxpayer-funded referendum was held to determine whether the letter H should be added to the name Wanganui, where no pronunciation changes occur,  the only change being the addition of aforementioned consonant between the letter W and A. The result of the referendum showed the vast majority of voters voted against the addition of the letter H, yet the authorities proceeded with the addition of the letter regardless of demonstrated democratic opinion.
 
Therefore, I have these questions. (Note: I am not taking the piss, I genuinely am interested in the answers).
 
1) What significance does the additiion of the letter H have? I am not Maori myself, I am interested in the historical significance of the spelling.
 
2) Why does the New Zealand government, both national and local, hold referendums on issues when decisions have, arguably, already been made, thus rendering such referendum results useless?
 
3) Why are large scale referendums being held on such issues? I am not saying that the preservation of Maori culture or child abuse are insignificant issues, but I do not feel that recent topics such as the spelling of Whanganui or the smacking argument are fully representative of the larger scale ideas.
 
4) Who is responsible for the allocation of monetary resources towards such referendums? Surely the money could be better invested in, say, a child cancer unit at Wellington Hospital?
 
All answers would be appreciated.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Watch Yes Minister/Yes, Prime Minister DKP and you might gain a better understanding...

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
DKP22 wrote:
Therefore, I have these questions. (Note: I am not taking the piss, I genuinely am interested in the answers).

�

1) What significance does the additiion of the letter H have? I am not Maori myself, I am interested in the historical significance of the spelling.



Whanganui means big harbour in Maori. Wanganui means nothing. It is widely acknowledged that when the township was named, that it was being named after the river the town is situated on. The Wanganui name was in essence mis-spelt at the time of the naming of the town, and even in the 1840s this (the mis-spelling) was raised as an issue, and continued in such vein sporadically since then (there was a proposal to go to the H spelling in late 19th or early 20th century, can't remember the exact date now off the top of my head, but one of the councillors objected because he though it would have adverse impact on the town's postal service, so no change was effected).
In effect, all this is simply intended to correct a 150 year old spelling error. Can't really understand where Laws' indignation is coming from.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
el grapadura wrote:
DKP22 wrote:
Therefore, I have these questions. (Note: I am not taking the piss, I genuinely am interested in the answers).

�

1) What significance does the additiion of the letter H have? I am not Maori myself, I am interested in the historical significance of the spelling.


Can't really understand where Laws' indignation is coming from.


His ego.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
el grapadura wrote:
DKP22 wrote:
Therefore, I have these questions. (Note: I am not taking the piss, I genuinely am interested in the answers).

 

1) What significance does the additiion of the letter H have? I am not Maori myself, I am interested in the historical significance of the spelling.



Whanganui means big harbour in Maori. Wanganui means nothing. It is widely acknowledged that when the township was named, that it was being named after the river the town is situated on. The Wanganui name was in essence mis-spelt at the time of the naming of the town, and even in the 1840s this (the mis-spelling) was raised as an issue, and continued in such vein sporadically since then (there was a proposal to go to the H spelling in late 19th or early 20th century, can't remember the exact date now off the top of my head, but one of the councillors objected because he though it would have adverse impact on the town's postal service, so no change was effected).
In effect, all this is simply intended to correct a 150 year old spelling error. Can't really understand where Laws' indignation is coming from.



I think the reason for Michael Law's vehement opposition of this is not so much the issue with the name, but that, in his opinion, Maori have got what they want by playing the race/Treaty of Waitangi/oppression of culture card, despite overwhelming referendum results.

If El Grapadura is correct, then I agree with the name change.

Must say though, it is ridiculous how much this issue has blown up. Then again, it is New Zealand.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
DKP22 wrote:
2) Why does the New Zealand government, both national and local, hold referendums on issues when decisions have, arguably, already been made, thus rendering such referendum results useless?
 


Rates payers of Whanganui funded it.  Becuase Laws decided he wanted one.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
DKP22 wrote:
3) Why are large scale referendums being held on such issues? I am not saying that the preservation of Maori culture or child abuse are insignificant issues, but I do not feel that recent topics such as the spelling of Whanganui or the smacking argument are fully representative of the larger scale ideas.

In relation to the smacking one, we have a law saying if 10% of the votng population sign a petition then there must be a citizen initiated referendum.

I find it a bit silly.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
el grapadura wrote:
DKP22 wrote:
Therefore, I have these questions. (Note: I am not taking the piss, I genuinely am interested in the answers).

 

1) What significance does the additiion of the letter H have? I am not Maori myself, I am interested in the historical significance of the spelling.



Whanganui means big harbour in Maori. Wanganui means nothing. It is widely acknowledged that when the township was named, that it was being named after the river the town is situated on. The Wanganui name was in essence mis-spelt at the time of the naming of the town, and even in the 1840s this (the mis-spelling) was raised as an issue, and continued in such vein sporadically since then (there was a proposal to go to the H spelling in late 19th or early 20th century, can't remember the exact date now off the top of my head, but one of the councillors objected because he though it would have adverse impact on the town's postal service, so no change was effected).
In effect, all this is simply intended to correct a 150 year old spelling error. Can't really understand where Laws' indignation is coming from.

If I understand this correctly in the local maori dialect "whanga" sounded like wanga.  So all those years ago the local whites were giving a phonetic spelling to the Maori name as they heard it pronounced around them.  Given that it was all a long time ago when the maori language in written form was in it's infancy it was hardly even a mistake, just a unique set of circumstances.

So I suggest Wanganui is an accurate phonetic spelling in (NZ) English of the maori place name Whanganui.  That dosn't really help, does it?
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Historian James Belich on national radio on sat morning with Kim Hill said a simliar thing- said settlers heard the wh sound as more like the english wh in whistle, esp cos Nga Puhi (northern) dialect was what they mostly heard and that was how they pronounced the big river to the south- so Whannui became wh-anganui like in whistle, eventually spelt wanganui

 
ho hum, but the interview was choice as
 

Salmon swim upstream

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