What do our KIWI members think?

[astroron (Ron)]

What name would call the North and South Islands of New Zealand?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8011846.stm

[DeanoNZL (Adrian)]

There was a recent poll that stated 70% of people wanted to keep them the same. No problems if they do decide to change them, most of the mountains have Maori names as well. As long as they do not spend too much money deciding the final outcome.

[pgc hunter]

I'm sure there are more important issues to address than to please a minority. Just another example of PC gone mad.

[Bloodbean (Troy)]

PC gone way too far again... ugh!

[gbeal]

That's a hat-trick then, I too think it is PC over-done. A bit like Egmont becoming Mt Taranaki etc.
I think it is great to recognise and keep our (in fact "my") heritage, but to change it all now seems absurd.
A bit like putting the "H" into "Wanganui".
Gary

[Peter Ward]

What it don't get is:

One hunga is pronounced "oh-nee-hunga"

Yet One Tree Hill (..really no Tree hill due nutter with chainsaw...) is *not* pronounced "oh-nee Tree Hill".

Make up your mind guys!

[merlin8r]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

What it don't get is:

One hunga is pronounced "oh-nee-hunga"

Yet One Tree Hill (..really no Tree hill due nutter with chainsaw...) is *not* pronounced "oh-nee Tree Hill".

Make up your mind guys!

Well it IS a different language

[marki]

PC be dammed, I think they should call the north island "un" and the south island "zud"

Mark

[goober (Doug)]

I'm not Kiwi, but I like "The Shire" and "Mordor".

[garyp]

I don't think they should be changed at all. Keep it simple, otherwise how would Australian tourists find their way around NZ?

(Sorry guys, couldn't resist)

[oggie doggie]

It begs the question. Are we happy with how we name our Islands.
Are we happy with Australia and Tasmania for the names of our Islands?
Or perhaps Mainland and Paradise are more appropriate.

I'm not sure.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by goober

I'm not Kiwi, but I like "The Shire" and "Mordor".

I saw a similar idea in another discussion. I think a better Tolkien reference would be Gondor and Arnor, or perhaps Northfarthing and Southfarthing (but then there would be the question of where are the east and west farthing).

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by oggie doggie

It begs the question. Are we happy with how we name our Islands.
Are we happy with Australia and Tasmania for the names of our Islands?
Or perhaps Mainland and Paradise are more appropriate.

I'm not sure.

Or Paradise and The Other Bit Down South

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Nuzullanders call Australia the "west island", so keeping Nth and Sth names sounds logical to me.

[GrahamL]

What are the traditional names for the islands ?

[Zaps]

Originally Posted by nightstalker

What are the traditional names for the islands ?

The North Island and the South Island. Or at least that's what Kiwis called them right up until I shipped out, and AFAIK they didn't stop calling them that after I left.

This smells like both a distraction from the coming economic storm (which has yet to really hit NZ hard), and a way for the new National Party government to suck up to certain groups.

They already reinstated "Royal Honours" after those were rightly scrapped by the previous (Labour) government, and then handed out knighthoods to Nat party members, and to that party's cronies in big business.

My guess is we'll either end up with bogus "traditional Maori" names, or the two islands will get corporate sponsorship titles: Maybe Fisher & Paykel Island and Carter Holt Harvey Island, or similar.

[DeanoNZL (Adrian)]

Originally Posted by nightstalker

What are the traditional names for the islands ?

North Island as Te Ika a Māui (the fish of Māui)
South Island as Te Wai Pounamu (the waters of greenstone)
(text from Wikipedia)

[GrahamL]

Thanks Adrian .. Though come 18 July you guys have to man up and tell us what island you want to get yo ass whooped on

[Jen]

Originally Posted by nightstalker

Thanks Adrian .. Though come 18 July you guys have to man up and tell us what island you want to get yo ass whooped on

[DeanoNZL (Adrian)]

As long as the cup does NOT go to the "West Island", I will be happy