Best of the web: All sorts of opinions on name change

Rimutaka Hill or Remutaka Summit?

Rimutaka or Remutaka? You can be sure the suggestion of a name change will fire up online interest - and generate some heat.

A group calling itself the Remutaka Pass Co-ordinating Group has sought support for a name change, to give the hill road higher profile that would help in its promotion as a scenic drive.

So far, South Wairarapa District Council is supportive, but posters to the Wairarapa Times-Age Facebook page are divided over the idea.

Trevor FitzJohn posted that if the iwi consider it to be the correct spelling, then change would be appropriate. He also got into detail over what a hill really was. "As to the word Hill, the summit of the road is not at the top of a hill so it's a pass. If Hill remains then it should be Hills as there are many peaks of the range not one named Rimatuka Hill."

Norah Lilian Packham thought that "Remutaka Pass" was more memorable, more exotic.

Bridget Percy said it was time for a correction "after all these years, something that no one should deny local iwi".

But Grant Morrell took a traditional view. "So much for our ancestors who sweated and toiled to build that road, so much for those we remember at this time of the year that marched over that hill to war to never return.

"All in the sake of iwi and the PC brigade whom most probably don't even drive over it.

"I drive the hill everyday and it will always be called the same by those who talk about it.

Don Wills pointed out that the "spelling" didn't seem to jibe with Maori being an oral language, not written.

Others just considered it a lot of noise signifying nothing.

Leave the name as it is, said Christine Rolton.

Linden Fay thought the debate was "ridiculous".

"Do people actually care about this?" asked Matthew Duncan. "Maybe they should focus their time on something a bit more pressing in local matters."

Robyn Hamilton said she'd put her energy behind a name change - if it meant the name of a new tunnel.