"DISPLEASURE"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 114, 6 January 1932, Page 6

"DISPLEASURE"

MAORI ATTITUDE CHANGING NAME OF THE TONGARIRO RIVER WISHES NOT CONSULTED The following letter bearing on the naming of the Tongariro River as "Upper Waikato" has been sent to the Prime Minister by. the rangatira and mexnber of Ngati-Tulcharetoa, who live in the Lake Taupo and Tongariro districts : — "To the Right Honourable the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Wellington. "Sir, — We, the undersigned rangatira and members of Ngati-Tuwhare-toa, resident in the Lake Taupo and Tongariro districts, note with great displeasure the movement recently made in certain quarters to have the name of the Tongariro River changed to that of 'Upper Waikato,' and we regard with indignation the action of t,he Auckland Automobile Association in placing name-boards on the bridge a; Turangi with the name 'Upper "Waikato, in bold letters and that o.f 'Tongariro' in small lettering in parentheses underneath. Within the last f ew weeks a map prepared by the Survey Office, Wellington, and published in the 'Evening Post' of 14th November, had the name 'Upper Waikato' covering a considerable length of the river long known to our people as Tongariro. The least that could have been done by the chief of the Survey Office was to have consulted the tangata-whenua, the people of the land, and ascertained their wishes. This, we understand. is the practice of every local body before f.n important change of name is made, and it is but an act of common courtesy. Immemorial

"The name Tongariro River as applied to the waters flowing from and draining the Tongagiro-Ngauruhoe-Ruapehu Range, the Kaimanawa Range, and Lake Rotoaira, into Taupo Moana on the north, has been assqciated with our people, their history, their legends, and their folklore, and we desire emphatically to protest against any change in a name that has by long and endearing associations, as well as geographical fact, become so firmly established. "We trust, Sir, that as Prime Minister, and- a friend of our race, you will do all in your power to prevent this unwarranted change of name, and by so doing you will for all timo have the grateful thanks of our people. "Sighed by Hoani Te Heuheu, Puataata Te Kerehi (P. A. Grace), Te Pau Mariu, Tapu Paurini, Werihe Te Tuiri, Morehu Henry Downs, Taukuira Keepa, Te Hoka H. Down, Wahinehira Down, Wiremu Hohepa, Pateriki Te Aue, Rangiita Te Waaha. V Rihia, Wi Takirei Poinga, T. W. Rihia, Ngamane Pukeariki, Pat-enki Hura, Hohepa Hoko Patena, Toha Downs, Heka Hemapo, Te Mare Te Heuheu Moon, Raukawa Te Heuheu, Rihi te Heuheu, Tiniwaata Hepi. Wairi Te Tuiri, Taipiria Hepi, Hori Kaipara, Renata Tawera, Perenara Hepi, Thomas Hepi, Te Heuheu Tawhiao, Paapu Teihi, Tiuka Tamaira Morehu Te Toma, Ei-uera Whatapuhou, Taiahiahi Te Otimi, Wai Tamaira, Tauri Paora, Runga Tohi Raukura. Peehi Turoa, Te Kuru Hoani. Tawhirau Maniapoto, Duff Maniapoto, Pat. Maniapoto, Hina Maniapoto, Tai Maniapoto, Patatai Te Hanairo, Hauk'no, Rangiamohia, Whakatihi Tutunui."