this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2023
12 points (92.9% liked)

Aotearoa / New Zealand

1658 readers
5 users here now

Kia ora and welcome to !newzealand, a place to share and discuss anything about Aotearoa in general

Rules:

FAQ ~ NZ Community List ~ Join Matrix chatroom

 

Banner image by Bernard Spragg

Got an idea for next month's banner?

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Wish there was an option to have this as default

top 24 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] deadbeef79000 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Jesus wept.

It's for one week people.

It's not like the places have actually moved, you still know where your town is.

[–] Rangelus 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

People really love to get their panties in a twist.

Gasp, I have to learn a few new words! Woe is me!

[–] Ilovethebomb -4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There's a grand total of two people who've said anything remotely negative about this, don't you think you're being a tad dramatic?

[–] Rangelus 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What makes you think I'm specifically talking only about comments in this thread?

[–] Ilovethebomb -3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Who are you talking about then?

[–] Rangelus 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The large number of people who bitch and moan, in person and on social media, about the increasing use of Te Reo in every day life. And yes, you are but one example of this.

[–] Ilovethebomb -3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm mostly bitching about you bitching.

[–] Rangelus 2 points 1 year ago

What a constructive thing to do.

[–] Ilovethebomb -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Funnily enough, if you open the map all the names are in English, it's only the list on the front page that has changed.

Typical token gesture really.

[–] Xcf456 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Lol if it doesn't go far enough it's a token gesture, if it goes too far it's 'too confusing'. Can't win eh

[–] Ilovethebomb -2 points 1 year ago
[–] HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Im in two minds about this. saying that, absolutely should be an option.

Maori names for areas I fully agree with as they had names before, but for individual towns that were European settlements and named accordingly it may be a bit harder as two close towns can have very different weather.

[–] Dave 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I dunno, there are common names in both Māori and English. I don't see a problem with making Māori names more commonly known though actions like this at a time specifically intended to build the country's Māori knowledge.

I think it's a different conversation from the decision to change the name of a town to be referred to a new name in both Māori and English.

[–] HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Oh, the ones that have both can absolutely have a name change for a week.

My concern is places that never had a Maori name (as they were settled and named from europeans) being given a name for the sake of Maori language week that was never commonly used.

[–] Xcf456 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Two points:

  1. Maori were pretty much all over before Europeans, in a lot of cases I'm sure they had a name for an area that later became a European settlement

  2. Even if they didn't, why should Te Reo be frozen in time at 1840? All languages evolve and take on new words and so on. Why shouldn't it incorporate new words for things and places that didn't exist before?

[–] Ilovethebomb 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That not really the point camper was making though, is it? If a town or city was initially named with an English name, how is it fair to rename that area, and expect everyone to know what you're talking about?

[–] Rangelus 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Because it's really hard to learn one new word, amirite?

[–] Ilovethebomb 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Is there only one place in NZ?

[–] Rangelus 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh right, I forgot NZ has many places but lacks google.

Naturally when I've travelled overseas every place name was in English and I never had to trouble myself rubbing two braincells together!

🙄

[–] Ilovethebomb 0 points 1 year ago

Not sure how overseas travel is really relevant, but whatever.

[–] Fizz -5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't think ill ever be able to adjust to the increased Maori language usage.

[–] luthis 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's just like anything, the more you use it the easier it will become