Māori Party's call for inquiry into offensive street names, statues could impact Taranaki

Friday, 12 June 2020

Calls for an inquiry into the identification and removal of objectionable colonial monuments, statues and street names located around the country could have an impact in Taranaki.

A push for the removal of memorials to controversial historical figures is gaining traction around New Zealand, after successful movements overseas, and is being championed by the Māori Party.

Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer reiterated the party was not calling for all memorials to be taken down.

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'What we are asking is that there is a really good, balanced discussion and inquiry where iwi and hapu with the government decide which ones,' Ngarewa-Packer said.

'To get a better understanding of some of the offence that some of the names create.'

And there are a number of street names and monuments in Taranaki that could be up for discussion.

William George Malone, one of New Zealand's outstanding soldiers during the Gallipoli campaign, took part in the attack on Parikaka in November 1881 and has a statue erected in his honour on Stratford's main street.

Ngarewa-Packer also said Normanby's Chute St, named after Major-General Trevor Chute, and Hāwera's Cameron St, after Lieutenant-General Duncan Cameron, were two other examples in Taranaki that could potentially be changed.

'They were responsible for the scorching of the land, the forcible removal of families from their homes, and they led the burning of a church in Rangiaowhia and as it burnt they shot children and women trying to escape.'

Ngarewa-Packer said the Crown had already apologised to the people of Taranaki as part of the reconciliation process for the atrocities committed in the region, including at Parihaka.

'Let's follow through now and say they are not going to be glorified, let's remove them from our parks but maybe put them in museums.

'You can learn our history but in places that aren't seen as normalising and promoting what they did as being OK.'

New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom said the council had an open mind and would keep an eye on the request for an inquiry.

'Our Te Huinga Taumatua committee regularly discusses street names and other issues like this and we have a consensus-based approach to decision-making with iwi representatives,' Holdom said.

Stratford mayor Neil Volzke said the most well known statue in the district was Colonel William Malone who had been honoured as a WWI war hero, although he acknowledged he took part in the raid on Parihaka.

However, Volzke said he didn't think removing some statues or monuments would rewrite history. He also said the town's streets were all named after Shakespearean characters or plays.

'What is important is to educate and inform people about the past, so that we all have a better understanding. That will help us move forward in a more united way.'

South Taranaki mayor Phil Nixon said he could appreciate the Maori Party’s call for an inquiry.

'If an inquiry results in all of us having a better understanding of our history, that’s a good thing.'

Nixon was aware some street names in his district could fall into that category and the council was already looking at developing a street naming policy, involving representatives of its Iwi Liaison Committee and Community Boards.

'I think this will provide an opportunity for all parties to have good discussion and learn more about our shared history.'