Michael Laws Does Private About-Turn on Name Change

Tribal leader accuses him of ‘hypocrisy’

04 November 2009

Whanganui Mayor, Michael Laws, who has been outspoken over the past few months in opposing the change of his city’s name to the correct Maori spelling, has privately come out in favour of Kaikohe changing its name to Opango.
Maori academic and Ngapuhi leader, David Rankin, has begun a campaign to change Kaikohe to its original Maori name, and the Geographic Board is presently considering the matter.

However, Laws’ comments in an email, wishing Mr. Rankin good luck with his campaign, have been described as hypocritical by the Ngapuhi leader.
“Maori from the north supported the change to Whanganui”, he says, “and we backed Ken Mair in his difficult struggle against a hostile council and mayor. And now, that same mayor has turned around and said he obviously has no problem with other towns reverting to their correct names”.

Mr. Rankin has already started a petition on the issue which currently has close to 1100 signatures, and has considered organising a hikoi, as well as other protest action in support of the name change.

ends

© Scoop Media