4 Aug 2021
Referendum suggested for country's name
Aotearoa - many will know what that is - the name of the land in which we all live here in New Zealand. The discussion has cropped up with National MP Stuart Smith who says people should have say on the issue through a referendum. The name Aotearoa - was devised by Kupe's wife - Kuramarotini - when the first polynesian navigators who discovered it - greeted the land with 'he ao, he ao.' Rangatahi Māori and political commentator Safari Hynes told Māni Dunlop the name should not become a political football.