Mangled names anger Maori Party

Pita Sharples wants to end the mangling of Maori names by the country's politicians and news media.

The Maori Party co-leader says: "I am sick of hearing politicians make no effort to pronounce Maori names correctly.

"Maori need to see a victory. And one of the victories will be in the pronunciation of Maori names. I will insist on that. Starting with the news media and parliamentarians.

"Look at how they [politicians] pronounce John Tamihere's name. John Tammy Hairy - it's almost obscene. He's got a beautiful name. His name's mispronounced, and he doesn't even correct them. It is like calling me Pita Sharp Balls.

"I listened to Peter Montgomery's commentary during last year's America's Cup. His pronunciation of the names of the French team was beautiful. Then he goes on to talk about racing in the Haaraakee gulf. It's Hauraki [hoe rucky]."

One of the party's policies would be to enforce the correct pronunciation in Parliament and in the media.

Dr Sharples was critical of Race Relations Minister Trevor Mallard, who he says makes no effort to get Maori names right.

"He talks about Para Koora Horomia. Parekura [Pah-ree-koo-rah] is an easy name to say."

Mr Horomia, the Maori Affairs Minister, echoed Dr Sharples' concerns. He said his name was mispronounced "all the time".

Mr Tamihere, the Labour MP for Tamaki Makaurau, said he had given up correcting mispronunciation.

National's Maori affairs spokesman, Gerry Brownlee, said Dr Sharples "should get off his high horse".

He said there were more important issues facing Maori, including that they were on average poorer than non-Maori.

And he said mispronunciation was not unique to Pakeha.

"I get quite irritated when I hear Maori speakers butchering the English language. It is quite common for Maori speakers to misplace t's and d's. I hear them talk about heading into commidy [committee]."

Top 10

Pita Sharples', Parekura Horomia's, and John Tamihere's list of 10 mispronounced Maori names.

Paraparaumu (pah-rah-pah-rah-ew-moo)
Parekura (Pah-re-koo-rah)
Tamihere (Tah-me-hair-re)
Waitakere (Why-tar-care-re)
Waikato (why-car-tor)
Otorohanga (oh-tor-roar-hunga)
Taupo (toe-poor)
Papatoetoe (Papa-toy-toy)
Rotorua (Roar-tour-roo-a)
Otahuhu (Or-ta-who-who)