What the H?

The North Island city of Whanganui is to have the “H” restored to its name, if the New Zealand Geographic Board's unanimous decision isn’t overruled by the National Party-led government. For generations, the city’s name has been incorrectly spelled “Wanganui”.

Outside of the region, the fight over the “H” looks like a stand-in for fights over other issues. Certainly, the town’s mayor, Michael Laws, has pursued a largely racist course through town politics, which makes his declaration that the Board’s decision is “racist”, ironic.

Laws referred to a referendum last May in which 77 percent of people voting preferred to keep the name spelled incorrectly. Voters who took part in a referendum in 2006 had the same opinion. Laws also claimed—incorrectly, as it turned out—that “a majority” of the submissions to the Board were opposed to a change, and declared, in the manner of all who don’t get their way, "Why have submissions at all?" In fact, submissions were 444 opposed and 436 in favour of a change, fairly evenly divided.

In 1991, the Board changed the spelling if the river the Whanganui, so it was inevitable that the town’s name would be changed, too. Laws played up the issue, a move that played well with the rednecks Laws tries to represent and appeal to. Quite frankly, most other New Zealanders probably can’t figure out get what the H Laws’ problem is.

The decision now goes to Maurice Williamson, the Minister for Land Information, who can confirm, modify or reject the decision. Laws is a former National Party Member of Parliament, but that may not help him with the government, especially after a series of decisions that its coalition partner, the Maori Party, has not supported.

Although the decision is the right one, I have to admit: I always like seeing Michael Laws knocked down a peg. Few NZ politicians deserve it as much as he does.

Update 18/09/09: Predictably, Michael Laws has been using this to rally the rednecks and, in the process, has managed to make Whanganui look like the redneck capital of New Zealand. Not all of the district's residents are as bigoted and racist as Laws is, and I would certainly hope that there are enough of them to send Laws into retirement. His antiquated politics of division really have no place in modern New Zealand. But, I hear the US Republicans are always looking for racists to join their party… (yes, that's sarcastic)