April 26, 2018
Name change plan reopens Whanganui wounds
The chair of Manawatu Whanganui Regional Council says a proposal to change the spelling of the name has torn a scab off a wound he thought had healed.
The council, which trades as Horizons, is considering adding an H to Wanganui and a macron indicating a long final U in Manawatu.
Bruce Gordon says controversy over Whanganui District Council adding an H had died down, so he didn't understand why his council had to put include the idea in consultation over its long term plan.
"Everybody seems happy about the region of Whanganui and the river having an H but when it comes to the town or the city, that's where the divisiveness comes in and Ihave received a number of threatening letters and all sorts about 'you add the H and they will all be after you,' and vice versa, 'head on andf put the H in,' so it is disappointing we have had to open this wound in order to change our name," he says.
Mr Gordon believes a name change is inevitable in time, and the sooner it happen the better .
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