Aotearoa (pronounced /ˌaʊtɛəˈroʊ.ə/; often translated as “land of the long white cloud”)[16] is the current Maori name for New Zealand. It is not known whether Māori had a name for the whole country before the arrival of Europeans, with Aotearoa originally referring only to the North Island. [17] Māori had several traditional names for the two main islands, including Te Ika-a-Māui (Māui`s fish) for the North Island and Te Waipounamu (green stone water) or Te Waka o Aoraki (Aoraki`s canoe) for the South Island. [18] Early European maps labeled the North (North Island), Central (South Island) and South (Stewart/Rakiura Islands) islands. [19] In 1830, cartographers began using “north” and “south” on their maps to distinguish between the two largest islands, and by 1907 it was the accepted standard.[15] This put names like North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui and South Island or Te Waipounamu. [20] For each island, the English or Maori name or both may be used together. [20] Your name will not be automatically changed in your other documents – this is a separate process. Getting rid of the island`s colonial names could provide a lasting boost to the tourism industry. When historically marginalized communities regain leadership on their lands, destinations often reap significant benefits, including new marketing opportunities, better destination management, increased visitor numbers, and a better experience for visitors and residents. As New Zealanders grapple with their nation`s troubled past with colonisation and denial of Maori rights, a name change for the island nation is being considered as part of its own accounts. Sometimes names were given due to incorrect geography, as was the case with Abel Tasman, who first sighted the already inhabited shoreline in 1642. He named the country Staten Land because he believed the country was related to Isla de los Estados (Staten Island), present-day Argentina.
According to a group of academics from the University of Waikato writing in The Conversation, the exact origin of the name “long white cloud” or “long bright world” is not known. Your new name must consist of 1 last name and 1 or more other names. If you have religious, philosophical or cultural reasons for having only one name, you must attach a letter of explanation to your application. You can apply for a new birth certificate on the name change form or apply for it later. Application for registration of a change of name BDM 120 (PDF 586KB) Why it is important for the Maori party to push for a formal name change A name change would not require a great leap of imagination for some – the name is increasingly used by members of the public, in the media, businesses and governments and is listed in the New Zealand passport. This is not the first attempt to adopt the name te reo MÄori, but a petition signed by 70,000 people has given it a new impetus. When you`re 16, your parents can`t change your name without your consent. The petition has garnered more than 70,000 signatures and is under review by a parliamentary committee that could recommend a vote to parliament, put it to a national referendum or take no action. A significant portion of the public would like to see a change in the name of the country. More than 40% said they want to replace it with Aotearoa or include Aotearoa in the official name, while nearly 60% want to keep the name, according to a 2021 poll by 1News Colmar Brunton. Order a new birth certificate to prove that you have changed your name. This will display your new name and all your previously saved names.
A parliamentary committee will consider whether to unilaterally change New Zealand`s name, call a referendum or take no action. The petition is not the first popular attempt to codify “Aotearoa” in New Zealand law. A similar petition filed in 2019 garnered sympathy but no action, with the same committee noting only that the name is “increasingly being used as an alternative name for New Zealand” and that “the use of bilingual titles is common in Parliament and government agencies.” Te Paati Maori is a political party that aims to represent the interests of the indigenous peoples of New Zealand. In June, the two MPs presented a petition to the New Zealand Parliament with 70,000 signatures asking it to “change the country`s official name to Aotearoa” and restore the original Maori names in all settlements and other places. If you are a sperm or egg donor, or if you were born as a result of a donation, you can update your name in the HART registry at the same time as your name change.