This week I heard an article about the Geographic Board of New Zealand investigating changing the names of the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Te Wai Pounamu, relates to the veins of beautiful greenstone found in the South Island. Much prized by Maori and Pakeha alike this deep greenstone is synonymous with NZ. Aoteoroa is also a name associated with the Maori discovery of New Zealand, denoting it as the land of the long white cloud.
It is interesting to note that the common usage of North and South is not legitimate so I suppose the Board's process over the next year to talk to Maori Iwi and then to the rest of the population will bring up all sorts of names and traditions. "Mainland" being one of the well known names for the larger South Island (anyone for cheese!)
Perhaps it is easier just to let sleeping dogs lie and use the "kiss" principle
(keep it simple stupid)
