Afternoon tea with students will settle W(h)anganui spat: Laws

Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws. Photo / Tracey Grant

Wanganui mayor Michael Laws hopes to smooth troubled waters created by an exchange of angry letters with a group of primary school pupils by inviting them to afternoon tea.

Seven children from year 7 and 8 classes at Otaki School's kura kaupapa unit wrote letters in Maori to Mr Laws last month, saying they thought the spelling of Wanganui should have an "h".

The seven children wrote in separate letters how they were annoyed that Mr Laws would not change the city's name.

They received a letter back suggesting their teacher be sacked and that they control their anger.

"There are so many deficiencies of both fact and logic in your letters that I barely know where to start," Mr Laws told them.

The father of one of the pupils said he resented the "bullying undertone" of Mr Laws' response.

With the matter in the glare of the media spotlight today, Mr Laws released copies of the letters he described as "demanding".

He said his reply to the 11 and 12-year-olds was facetious, "but had a serious intent of questioning the emotions contained in the letters".

However, he said he had written to the school inviting the students and their parents to afternoon tea so that they could discuss the issue.

"I am sure that after a good chat any misunderstanding will be removed from this discussion."

- NZPA