My family has proudly called NZ home for almost 200 years.

Like most other settlers they bought the land, broke it in and built the fantastic country we see today.

This is the country we fought for - the home of 200 ethnic groups who chose ‘New Zealand' to live.

New Zealanders are admired throughout the world as pioneers in science, scholarship, top sporting athletes in all fields, leading primary producers, and is a tourist mecca.

Who would want to abandon this recognition? Or even add another name to it?

We have fought for justice in all war zones in the world.

The biggest injustice is now occurring here when some separatist minority who also immigrated here is forcing a name change to Aotearoa – a name unrecognised in the world.

Over 80 per cent of New Zealanders are not Maori and yet steps are already in place to force them learn te reo; rename all place names, extinguish their history, and create even more special iwi rights in all governing statutes.

To rename a country is indicative of control and governance.

There is no ‘We are all New Zealanders' here! Just read the Maori Party's policy. The Treaty making us one people with equal rights doesn't even come into it.

R Stephens, Papamoa