The Geographic Board wants New Zealanders to choose whether to use a Maori or an English name for the North and South Islands. The Board has recommended this to the Land Information Minister, Maurice Williamson. It is now his decision. If he agrees, we will have a choice. We can either use the Maori or the English name. Already we have a choice for a few other places.
Before the Europeans settled in New Zealand, Maori had their own names for places. Many of those Maori names are still used, especially for rivers and rural areas. Most small towns have only a Maori name.
Listen to April 22nd 2009 to hear more about this.
Vocabulary
• Geographic Board – a group of 10 experts who decide about place names
• recommended – made a strong suggestion
• rural – country areas (opposite: urban)