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September 15, 2021
Aotearoa petition in name of well being
Ellyce McLeod
Posted On September 15, 2021
Download AudioMāori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says changing the country’s name to Aotearoa and restoring all Māori place names by 2026 will help the nation heal in a time of crisis.
As part of its contribution to Te Wiki o te Reo Māori the party yesterday launched a petition calling for the change.
Ms Ngarewa-Packer says schools, local government and communities have been increasingly talking about about the restoration of tūpuna names.
These wananga have become about nationhood.
“There’s a lot of healing for our mental well being in being able to remind ourselves this place here wasn’t called New Plymouth, it was called Ngāmotu, this place wasn’t called Hawera, it was called Te Ramanui which is about lighting the fire of hope and ahi kā. there is a lot about giving us important reminders of who we are and I think when everything is as tough as they are for everyone right now, that matters,” Ms Ngarewa-Packer says.
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