Maori Leader Condemns Geographic Board for “Cultural Ignorance”

Maori leader and academic David Rankin has strongly criticised the Geographic Board for considering changing the name of the North Island to Te Ika a Maui. He points out that the legend about the fish of Maui was a largely European-inspired idea, because Maori could only have known that the shape of the North Island resembled a fish after having seen maps produced by early European explorers.

“This means that the name North Island predates Te Ika a Maui”, says Mr. Rankin, “and so it is not traditional at all”.

Mr. Rankin has ridiculed the Geographic Board for their cultural ignorance on this matter, and for disregarding tribal histories in favour of fabricated stories with no substance.

“If the Geographic Board persists with this erroneous proposal of using Te Ika a Maui for the name of the North Island”, says Mr. Rankin, “then they will be opening themselves up to all sorts of accusations of incompetence, and I will be leading that charge”.

ENDS

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