In brief
The Speaker of New Zealand's Parliament, Gerry Brownlee, has ruled that MPs can freely use the name Aotearoa when referring to the country, amidst recent pushback from some lawmakers, including Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. Brownlee emphasized that the usage of Aotearoa, which means "land of the long white cloud," is supported by its inclusion on official documents like passports and currency. This ruling comes amid a broader debate about the recognition and respect of Māori language and culture in New Zealand.
Article Text: The speaker of the house in New Zealand's parliament has stated that he will not entertain further complaints from lawmakers regarding the use of the Māori name for the country, Aotearoa. During a parliamentary ruling on Tuesday, Speaker Gerry Brownlee confirmed that Aotearoa, which translates to "land of the long white cloud," is properly recognized and frequently used when referring to New Zealand. This declaration follows an objection raised by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who suggested that the usage of Aotearoa should be prohibited in parliamentary discussions and that such a change should require a referendum.While New Zealand remains the country’s legal name—subject to alteration only by legislative action—Aotearoa has a historical significance in Māori culture. Brownlee pointed out that the name appears on passports and currency, as well as in the Māori version of the national anthem, which is typically performed prior to the English rendition. "If other members do not like certain words, they don't have to use them. But it's not a matter of order, and I don't expect to have further points of order raised about it," Brownlee stated.The objection by Peters surfaced last month, prompted by Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March's use of the name during a parliamentary session. Peters, a Māori member of Parliament, questioned the legitimacy of allowing a newer immigrant to propose changes to the country’s name without a public referendum. Menéndez March, originally from Mexico, has since become a New Zealand citizen, as all MPs are required to be.Fellow New Zealand First party member and Māori minister, Shane Jones, also questioned the claim of immigration status dictating the appropriateness of nomenclature for New Zealand. During the same session, Brownlee suggested that members might use "Aotearoa New Zealand" to avoid confusion, though he clarified that doing so was not mandatory.The name Aotearoa doesn't hold the same significance for all Māori, as it initially referred specifically to New Zealand’s North Island; nonetheless, it is increasingly adopted by non-Māori to honor indigenous culture. Peter’s disagreement with Brownlee's decision, reported by Radio New Zealand (RNZ), centers solely on parliamentary usage of Aotearoa. He indicated that he would refuse to respond to future inquiries posed under that name.Māori language usage in public life has expanded in the last few decades, largely due to advocacy from indigenous leaders. In 2022, the Māori Party garnered over 70,000 signatures on a petition to change the country’s name to Aotearoa. Māori Party Co-leader Rawiri Waititi criticized the name New Zealand, attributed to Dutch origins, as disconnected from the cultural and historical context of the land.Since the current government's establishment in 2023, there has been a directive for government departments to prioritize English in communication, except where specific Māori contexts are concerned. Additionally, the coalition's junior partner, the Act party, is advocating to redefine aspects of the Treaty of Waitangi, a move that has attracted significant criticism.
