Changing NZ names of everything?
The NZ Geographic Board have trumpeted a plan to change NZ names including the main islands of NZ: 'North Island”(Te Ika-a-Maui), 'South Island”(Te Waipounamu) these are really 'user-friendly” names for locals and tourists? The NZGB say the current names have not been 'approved”? So now there is to be public consultation to change it all? But the members of the committee (same types as the ‘Independent' Constitutional Committee) present no reason to have any faith that there's really to be any meaningful 'consultation” before finalised.
NZ real history is a lot different, in 1840 a Royal Charter declared that the commonly called ‘Northern Island', ‘Middle Island' and ‘Stewart's Island', were officially designated to be known as: ‘New Ulster', ‘New Munster', and ‘New Leinster'”.
A further Royal Charter in 1846 stated that NZ was to be divided into two provinces: New Ulster and New Munster, the latter is everything south of the Patea River mouth including Stewart Island. The two new provinces had there own Governor and so on. In 1852 the UK Parliament passed a statute, the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, this divided NZ into six provinces. Read more at: - http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/provinces
If the current names of North, South and Stewart Islands are to retained the public at large will need to be proactive on this or they will change anyway, contact details are at http://www.linz.govt.nz/about-linz/contact-us

D Richards, Auckland.