Wanganui spelling goes to referendum

Wanganui could soon become Whanganui if residents support a referendum to change the spelling of the town's name.

The Wanganui District Council voted 7-4 in favour of having a referendum on the issue at a strategy committee meeting on Thursday.

Local Maori have argued for generations that Wanganui should include an h, like the river the town sits alongside.

The issue has polarised locals and caused division among its council.

Whanganui iwi member Ken Mair labelled the referendum a cop out. He said it was well-known the name was spelled incorrectly.

"I would love to be proved wrong, but this is a 'Maori issue' and Maori issues do not have the support of the majority."

Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws could not be reached for comment, but is understood to oppose a change.

Deputy Mayor Dot McKinnon said the referendum would be held early next year, but she acknowledged a name change was unlikely to win the support of the majority.

She said it was still being debated whether the name was incorrect.

The issue of Whanganui versus Wanganui arises because of the unique accent of local iwi, who favour an almost silent h when pronouncing wh.

Opponents of the name change have said as Maori was translated using English, phonetically, the town was spelled correctly.

Mr Mair said the argument was flawed.

"Is Michael Laws happy if I spell his name without an h because it is silent?'