Readers of both the Cambridge News and Te Awamutu News have responded negatively to a decision to ignore a European name for a Māori one in a new subdivision west of Cambridge.
The Marsden family proposed Marsden Ave or Marsden Lane, citing a possible ancestral link to Rev Samuel Marsden, a missionary who introduced Christianity to New Zealand.
Samuel Marsden
Waipā District Council’s Service Delivery committee approved the name Taawharuwharu Lane for a private right of way.
The council’s naming policy emphasises increasing the use of Māori names, particularly those with local topographical or historical relevance.
We invited readers to tell us what they thought – and almost all preferred to do so anonymously.
There were calls to review the “nonsense” policy and allegation of bias.
“The Marsden family own the land and they have requested it be named after them – simple, just do it,” one reader suggested.
“I cannot believe that a person goes to the trouble of developing a property for housing and is told what name he has to call the street,” another said. “The next thing is we will be told what name you need to call your baby when it is born.”
“…this is bureaucracy gone mad…we do not need to continue naming everything with a Māori name, we are a predominantly English speaking country and need to embrace that culture as well”, another wrote.
Taylor Street at the northern end of Hugo Shaw Drive in Bridleways Estate before it became Don Gerrand Drive.
The gathering of family and friends pictured after the road sign honouring Don Gerrand was unveiled last year. Photo: Viv Posselt
