Xtra News Community 2
March 29, 2024, 09:01:11 pm
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: Welcome to Xtra News Community 2 — please also join our XNC2-BACKUP-GROUP.
 
  Home Help Arcade Gallery Links BITEBACK! XNC2-BACKUP-GROUP Staff List Login Register  

I hear Michael Laws presides over a “spelling mistake!”

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 5   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: I hear Michael Laws presides over a “spelling mistake!”  (Read 2369 times)
0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.
Kiwithrottlejockey
Guest
« Reply #25 on: March 01, 2009, 12:40:22 pm »

Mic_ael Laws' alp_abet (for rednecks)  



     
« Last Edit: March 01, 2009, 01:05:02 pm by Kiwithrottlejockey » Report Spam   Logged
Newtown-Fella
Guest
« Reply #26 on: March 01, 2009, 01:16:45 pm »

Michael Laws on Wanganui's 'h' debate

In the early hours of Thursday morning, an individual armed with a hand-sized rock stole up the driveway of my darkened property.

It was light enough to make out the front of the house, and the two large picture windows that jut out from our four-bedroom bungalow. One had the curtains drawn with a variety of teddy bears and soft toys pressed hard against the pane. Obviously, a child's bedroom. The other had the curtains open, and a rudimentary inspection would have suggested that this was the lounge.

Now only metres away from the glass, the intruder deliberately aimed the rock at the soft toys and hurled it hard. The report - as stone struck toughened glass - reverberated down the street. Then he (or she) turned on their heels, fled back down the drive, and dashed into a waiting car. The noise of the car accelerating woke neighbours.

This was the nocturnal postscript to the Wanganui District Council's decision last week to reject a proposal to change the spelling of our city.

A demand, from a minority of its citizens, to ignore the wishes of the majority
. It was an act of anger, an act of defiance, an act of wanton intimidation. And - like most such acts - ultimately futile.

Because the issue is that simple. The demands of a minority - with their associated claims of cultural precedence - will always be resisted. There are no God's chosen people on this planet, and there is no ethnicity with the final say upon process or precedence.

Which is the problem with the whole Wanganui versus Whanganui debate. Far from being about cultural ignorance, it's actually about cultural arrogance. A warped belief that a word "belongs" to a people and that they will have it spelt as they demand.

As I watched activist Ken Mair file his charges into the council chambers last week - and attempt to subtly pressure the elected representatives - it struck me that what I was really being asked was to surrender.

Surrender 165 years of a town, a city and a district's mana. Deny that all the decades and generations before had meant anything. That Wanganui was some kind of spelling mistake and an affront to grammarians everywhere.

In fact, the history is not so simple. The truth is that Maori did not have a written language and that this was gifted them by early English missionaries and settlers. I doubt any colonisers have ever gifted anything as important: the ability to converse in a common, written tongue.

Of course, Maori were not an homogenous entity in the early 19th century. Tribes and hapu saw themselves as distinct entities - mini- countries and clans. They shared similar, but not the same, customs, outlooks and dialects. And in Wanganui, they pronounced the "wh" sound as neither "f" nor "wih". Consequently, the English settlers - in petitioning the governor of the day to change the name of their settlement from "Petre", nominated the indigenous 'Wanganui' as their preferred alternative. They were ultimately successful - the name itself derived from Maori and, in Maori, meaning "big bay".

This much is known - that Wanganui was sometimes spelt as "Whanganui". Although much more often, the reverse. And so like Otago (derived from the Maori "Otakou"), the province assumed an identity of its own. Independent of Maori and yet a part. The true description would be "a name derived from the Maori language".

It is now the contention of Wanganui people that our city and district has its own identity, its own history, its own pride, its own mana. We asserted such in 2006, when 17,000 people voted in a plebiscite on our district's name. Almost 14,000 of that number (82%) voted to keep Wanganui's spelling as it is.

But activists want to turn back time. They want to undo the past 165 years and they want to eradicate a history and a heritage that, they claim, is not their own. They have petitioned a non-elected body, the NZ Geographic Board, to allow the minority to dictate their whim, to the far greater majority.

In so doing there is an assertion of appalling arrogance. That the city and district belong to local Maori, as if in some kind of cultural hegemony. That their way is the true way, and everyone else is either monstrously mistaken or the r-word. Racist.

It is a lazy and dishonest argument. Lazy because it seeks to condemn any alternative viewpoint as immoral, and dishonest because it won't engage with the reality. That Wanganui doesn't belong to local Maori any more than it belongs to Pakeha, Chinese, Indian or South African New Zealanders. It belongs to us all.

Tangata whenua may be recognised as having been the first settlers, but this never gifted them the power of veto. Their rights are no more exhaustive nor prescriptive than the most recent migrant. And they most surely do not get to spell this city and district, regardless of the wishes of 82% of the population.

Which accounts for the rock. A troglodytic response to not getting one's way. This latest move - from Maori cultural pride to cultural tyranny - must be resisted. New Zealand belongs to all New Zealanders, irrespective of race. So, too, does Wanganui.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4864462a1861.html
Report Spam   Logged
DidiMau69
Shit-Hot Member
*
Posts: 1398


On patrol Bien Hoa Province 1969


« Reply #27 on: March 01, 2009, 01:18:23 pm »



It still doesn't change the fact that Michael Laws is an idiot presiding over Whanganui and spouting bullshit on a rednecksville “bullshit” show, otherwise known as talkback radio that is listened to (and participated in) by fellow idiots....Grin

Gosh, has Micheal somehow upset you?

Seems that 82% of the people/idiots of Wanganui agree with him. They must all be "bullshit" spouting rednecks!

I wonder if someone could come up with an answer as to why the missionaries wrote Maori names beginning with F with a  Wh?. Many of the same missionaries when putting other Pacific languages into written form used 'F' for the sound (Samoan 'Fale' for instance)
Report Spam   Logged

Walk softly and carry a big stick. - Theodore Roosevelt.
Lovelee
XNC2 GOD
*
Posts: 19338



« Reply #28 on: March 01, 2009, 01:41:45 pm »

The man doesnt have to be saying anything racist or irrational, he just have to open his mouth and he's making a fool of himself IMO.
Report Spam   Logged

Laughter is the best medicine, unless you've got a really nasty case of syphilis, in which case penicillin is your best bet.
guest49
Guest
« Reply #29 on: March 01, 2009, 01:48:18 pm »

Dont laugh KiwiT.
My son started school nearly 40 years back, and the bees-knees in spelling back then, was "spell it as its pronounced - we'll catch up with the proper spelling once the kids have got a bit of a grasp."
Of course the kids never got "caught up," and a many of a generation of kids still struggle with the correct spelling.
Report Spam   Logged
DidiMau69
Shit-Hot Member
*
Posts: 1398


On patrol Bien Hoa Province 1969


« Reply #30 on: March 01, 2009, 04:03:02 pm »

Apparently the initial reward of $500 for information put up by Laws himself has now raised itself to $2100.

It's all of those 'bullshit spouting rednecks' who listen to his radio show who have raised it.

You don't for one moment think that they represent the majority view in this country do you?
Report Spam   Logged

Walk softly and carry a big stick. - Theodore Roosevelt.
Lovelee
XNC2 GOD
*
Posts: 19338



« Reply #31 on: March 01, 2009, 05:00:34 pm »


You don't for one moment think that they represent the majority view in this country do you?

It makes no difference Didi - the mans a wanker.
Report Spam   Logged

Laughter is the best medicine, unless you've got a really nasty case of syphilis, in which case penicillin is your best bet.
sparkels
Member
*
Posts: 139



« Reply #32 on: March 01, 2009, 06:01:44 pm »

Michael Laws has always acted like a little 'Napoleon', even when he was the spin doctor for Labour from way back.

I've never liked him, but it should be up to the community to sort out.  Either way, he (Laws) should stop playing god.  He's a jumped up bigot. (imo)
Report Spam   Logged

Don't worry, be happy.
guest49
Guest
« Reply #33 on: March 01, 2009, 06:18:16 pm »

I guess he's popular enough that some vote for him
Report Spam   Logged
Lovelee
XNC2 GOD
*
Posts: 19338



« Reply #34 on: March 01, 2009, 06:29:16 pm »

Is it popularity or is it that some are sucked in by a perceived 'boy-hood charm' and a man who veils his racist jibes with a smutty holier-than-thou snigger?  Roll Eyes
Report Spam   Logged

Laughter is the best medicine, unless you've got a really nasty case of syphilis, in which case penicillin is your best bet.
guest49
Guest
« Reply #35 on: March 01, 2009, 06:34:20 pm »

Damn.  A picture is worthy a thousand words, so they say.
There used to be a shrugging smiley floating around somewhere.
Report Spam   Logged
sparkels
Member
*
Posts: 139



« Reply #36 on: March 01, 2009, 07:02:18 pm »

I think he may have thought he had 'boyhood charm', and has been trying to hang on to that perception ever since he hit the beehive.

He's an undercover racist who thinks he's a man worthy of note.  I'll be surprised if he makes it to 'mayorhood' again.  I hope he doesn't.  He's totally unrepresented in his views.  imo.

However, there surely is no need to make so much bruhahahaha about the name.  Add the 'h' and the printing of legal forms becomes that much more pricey.
Report Spam   Logged

Don't worry, be happy.
Besto
Getting The Hang Of It
*
Posts: 44


« Reply #37 on: March 01, 2009, 07:10:30 pm »

I don,t care much for Laws as a person,in my opinion he is jumped up prat ,but he does have one point.Maori didn,t even have written language until the poms arrived!!!!!!!!!! Grin
Report Spam   Logged
bump head benny
Shit-Hot Member
*
Posts: 1291



WWW
« Reply #38 on: March 01, 2009, 07:31:34 pm »

Laws can dish it out but who is calling who arrogant? Sometimes the truth is right there hidden in plain view.


the problem with the whole Wanganui versus Whanganui debate.
Far from being about cultural ignorance, it's actually about cultural arrogance. A warped belief that a word "belongs" to a people and that they will have it spelt as they demand.

Report Spam   Logged

Lets kill all the warmongers.
Kiwithrottlejockey
Guest
« Reply #39 on: March 01, 2009, 08:13:33 pm »

Seems that 82% of the people/idiots of Wanganui agree with him. They must all be "bullshit" spouting rednecks!

And millions of 'mericans were silly enough to vote for Dubya as their president — not just once, but twice!!

Kind of goes to show how the majority great unwashed can vote idiots into power, be it the President of the USA, the Mayor of Ork-lund, or the Mayor of Whanganui.




I guess he's popular enough that some vote for him

See above.
Report Spam   Logged
Newtown-Fella
Guest
« Reply #40 on: March 01, 2009, 08:46:37 pm »

.............. but it should be up to the community to sort out. 

the community have voted ......  82%  voted to keep Wanganui's spelling as it is

Report Spam   Logged
Kiwithrottlejockey
Guest
« Reply #41 on: March 01, 2009, 10:11:15 pm »



The NATIONAL MP for Whanganui (Chester Burrows) has come out in support of Whanganui, and as we know National are always right (and never wrong) according to all the Nats supporters at this group, then Whanganui must be correct!  Grin
Report Spam   Logged
Newtown-Fella
Guest
« Reply #42 on: March 01, 2009, 10:28:24 pm »

i can remember when the local Maori wanted the river  and to have it renamed Whanganui

the only wanted the water not the river bed ... Smiley

walk across Victoria St Dublin or  Cobham [SH3 ] Bridges and stop and look into the dirty water at all the condoms tampons and shit that floats down and out to sea...

boy them Maori were a bright lot



Report Spam   Logged
bump head benny
Shit-Hot Member
*
Posts: 1291



WWW
« Reply #43 on: March 02, 2009, 01:28:48 am »

Yeah Ill bet theres heaps of them Maoris on the local council who could have stopped all that crap getting spilt into the river aye....Huh NOT!!!
Report Spam   Logged

Lets kill all the warmongers.
Lovelee
XNC2 GOD
*
Posts: 19338



« Reply #44 on: March 02, 2009, 06:08:49 am »

i can remember when the local Maori wanted the river  and to have it renamed Whanganui

the only wanted the water not the river bed ... Smiley

walk across Victoria St Dublin or  Cobham [SH3 ] Bridges and stop and look into the dirty water at all the condoms tampons and shit that floats down and out to sea...

boy them Maori were a bright lot





I sincerely doubt either the tampons or the condoms have been thrown in there by Maori.  Its more likely the lil pakeha lasses and laddies playing on the river banks.
Report Spam   Logged

Laughter is the best medicine, unless you've got a really nasty case of syphilis, in which case penicillin is your best bet.
bump head benny
Shit-Hot Member
*
Posts: 1291



WWW
« Reply #45 on: March 02, 2009, 06:14:23 am »

Isnt the council responsible for making sure the water isnt polluted? or is it their job to oversee all the regular sewerage, tampons, toilet paper and condoms that get flushed into the river?Huh
« Last Edit: March 02, 2009, 09:25:00 am by bumphead benny » Report Spam   Logged

Lets kill all the warmongers.
Kiwithrottlejockey
Guest
« Reply #46 on: March 04, 2009, 05:46:27 pm »

“W” swapped for “Wh”

NZPA | Wednesday, 04 March 2009



Wanganui District Council got an “h” added to its name last night in an act Mayor Michael Laws describes as petty vandalism.

A formal complaint has been laid with Wanganui police after someone removed the bronze “W” from two signs on the council's office buildings and replaced them with a plastic “Wh”.



Last week the council met to frame an official reply to the NZ Geographic Board after it was asked to consider the issue of the proper spelling of the city and district following iwi group Te Runanga o Tupoho's application for a change to Whanganui.

The council voted to advise the board, on behalf of the wider Wanganui community, “that no change be made to the spelling of ‘Wanganui, either city or district’.”

Local iwi had been campaigning for the name change, saying Wanganui was misspelt and it was the right of Maori to assert the correct spelling of their language.

Since then there has been an attack on Mr Laws' home in which someone threw a rock at his daughter's bedroom.

Mr Laws called that attack a “cowardly retaliation for my stance on the Wanganui spelling issue”.

He offered $500 for information leading to the conviction of the responsible and listeners to Mr Laws' Radio Live show and Wanganui residents have boosted that to $2100.

Mr Laws said today that last night's “petty vandalism attack” on the council office buildings overnight, coming after the rock attack on the his home, was “only hardening the Wanganui community's resolve to resist the H cause”.

“There is a growing community backlash against activists seeking to ram their minority cause down the public's throat,” he said.

“There are costs to these activities — to the ratepayer and to race relations — and there is no discernible benefit being gained.”

“The key point is that it won't make a blind bit of difference to the resolve of the council or the community to keep the spelling of Wanganui, and our city's integrity, intact,” Mr Laws said.

Local Maori leaders said that last week's council vote against putting an h in Wanganui would not be the end of the matter.

They said the proposed change was not a debate between Maori and Pakeha, but rather righting a wrong.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/1997406/W-swapped-for-Wh
Report Spam   Logged
bump head benny
Shit-Hot Member
*
Posts: 1291



WWW
« Reply #47 on: March 04, 2009, 07:26:32 pm »

Theres nothing stopping Maori groups, organisations and businesses etc from adding a letter "H" to all their logos, flyers and letterheads. Whats Laws gonna do? fine them? arrest them? theres not a damned thing he can do about it. Let him and his alleged 80% keep their name (which means nothing) while those who have seen the error of their ways get on with their life using the correct spelling!!!
One good thing about that is the people who do change their spelling will have an interesting story to tell to everyone that visits the area.....I can see it now.....for many maaaany moons theyll tell of Laws and his pig headed attitude and stubborn insistence on naming the area after some completely meaningless bastardised version of the real name.
That story will be good for decades Im thinking maybe more???
 Grin

addendum;
UCOL - Whanganui UCOL
note the spelling.
« Last Edit: March 04, 2009, 10:19:56 pm by bumphead benny » Report Spam   Logged

Lets kill all the warmongers.
Kiwithrottlejockey
Guest
« Reply #48 on: March 30, 2009, 10:38:53 am »


Wanganui ‘should have an h’

The Dominion Post | Monday, 30 March 2009

BREAKING NEWS

Wanganui may soon get an "h", with the New Zealand Geographic Board finding its name is incorrectly spelt.

In a statement today, the board said the public would be given three months to make submissions on the proposed name change.

But Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws said the move would destroy the culture and history of the city.

Te Runanga o Tupoho had submitted a proposal to the board to change the city's name to Whanganui.

Geographic Board chairman Don Grant said there was a "valid case" to change the spelling.

"Wanganui, the name given to the town to reflect its position near the mouth of the Whanganui river, was spelt incorrectly and has never been formally gazetted by this Board or its predecessors."

"It is therefore not currently an official New Zealand place name."

Mr Laws has said a name change would be fiercely resisted.

"This is a direct attack upon our city and our citizens."

In a 2006 referendum, 18 percent of people voted for the "h".

Whanganui means great harbour or expanse of water and was named by Haunui, who came on the Aotea waka more than 600 years ago. Iwi spokesman Ken Mair said the name was considered meaningless without the "h".


http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2300853



I guess rednecksville (talkback radio) is about to become the best free entertainment show in NZ!

Report Spam   Logged
Lovelee
XNC2 GOD
*
Posts: 19338



« Reply #49 on: March 30, 2009, 10:45:59 am »

That article looks like it has a lot of journalistic bs in it - its certainly worded differently than the radio reports about this.  They are saying the board has said it wants to see debate over it, but that it feels the H should be there.

Ummm .. I thought this had been debated.
Report Spam   Logged

Laughter is the best medicine, unless you've got a really nasty case of syphilis, in which case penicillin is your best bet.

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 5   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by EzPortal
Open XNC2 Smileys
Bookmark this site! | Upgrade This Forum
SMF For Free - Create your own Forum


Powered by SMF | SMF © 2016, Simple Machines
Privacy Policy
Page created in 0.035 seconds with 14 queries.