Support for Wellington to be called Te Whanganui-a-Tara following Māori Party's language policy announcement
A Māori Party proposal to change the name of Wellington to Te Whanganui-a-Tara has the support of city leaders.
Kaumātua and Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa ki te Upoko o te Ika a Maui chairman Kura Moeahu said he strongly supported the move to return place names to the original ingoa Māori. It would helps everyone understand the local history, he said. "There is a narration that goes with each of these names.
Wellington City Councillor Jill Day (Ngāti Tūwharetoa), who holds the Māori Partnerships portfolio, welcomed the announcement.
Commuters spoken to in Wellington by Stuff also supported the idea. Craig Lambert thought Te Ūpoko o te Ika a Māui was a more inclusive alternative. ”It represents all people.”
“Many of our cities and towns were named after people who never came to Aotearoa, with no consideration of the names that were already in use,” Day said.
Fellow Councillor Tamatha Paul (Ngāti Awa and Waikato Tainui) said there were about 39 places called Wellington in the world.
A poll on Neighbourly with over 520 respondents was 81 per cent against a name change.
Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
🎉 2026 is almost here!
We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?
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10.4% Yes! New Year, New Me
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20.8% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
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68.7% Nah - not for me
Missing girl - from the Wellington Police page on Facebook
On the Wellington Police page: Have you seen Ella?
Police are seeking the public’s assistance to locate missing person Ella, who has not been seen since Saturday 27 December. Ella was last seen wearing grey pants, a pink shirt and slide-on slippers. Ella is believed to be in Johnsonville, or the wider Wellington City area. Police and Ella’s family have concerns for her wellbeing and would like to see her return safely. If you have seen Ella, or have any information on her whereabouts, please contact Police via 105 and reference the file number 251227/3635
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