May 07, 2019
Official status sought for name Aotearoa
Wellington man Danny Tahau Jobe Wellington has presented a petition calling for Aotearoa to become an official name for New Zealand.
The petition was received by Greens co-leader Marama Davidson and referred to parliament’s government and administration committee, which will seek public comment.
He says it was only when trying to get the Aotearoa added to New Zealand’ coat of arms that he discovered the name does not have official status, which he set out to rectify.
"A lot of people might see it as just a name from mai rā ano but it's not, for me it's our language, he kupu Māori tērā, so in that it's our language, our culture, our identity, our history, and everyone can share in that," Mr Jobe says.
A previous campaign he fought was over being allowed to use te reo Māori on birth certificates, so he has seen the value of marshalling public opinion.
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