John Armstrong: Minister to apply letter of law

Whether or not to put an "H" into Wanganui is going to be one "H" of a decision for Maurice Williamson to make.

That's "H" as in huge, hell or heck. It is an H-bomb sized political dilemma. National will cop the fallout whichever way Williamson leans.

It falls on him as Land Information Minister to confirm, modify or reject yesterday's recommendation by the New Zealand Geographic Board to insert an "H" into the official name of the city.

Williamson is stuck between a rock and an "H" place. There is absolutely no room for compromise. The "H" is either in Wanganui. Or it is not.

The board has effectively scuttled the existing unofficial and unstated compromise which had the electorate and the river officially named "Whanganui", while the city remained "Wanganui".

The upshot of the board's recommendation is a political stoush with all the ingredients - accusations of racism, charges of political correctness, indignant pakeha, Maori rights, and, on top of everything, an articulate and politically cunning mayor up against an equally cunning and astute local Maori MP.

Indeed, the sheer impossibility of satisfying both Michael Laws and Tariana Turia is enough to give the Prime Minister nightmares as National weighs up keeping its provincial vote on side while retaining harmony with the Maori Party, its support partner.

Williamson has wisely kicked for touch for the moment. He does not officially expect to get the board's recommendation for two or three weeks. He will then be "carefully" considering the board's report before making a decision.

By law, his decision is final. National will do its utmost to portray that decision as Williamson's alone to make. But that won't wash with whichever side is on the losing end of it.

Williamson will need no reminding of the sensitivities. He is a member of the Cabinet committee dealing with Treaty negotiations. He also has ministerial experience working with Maoridom, most notably as Broadcasting Minister in the 1990s when he was involved with setting up a Maori television station and the allocation of cellphone frequencies.

He is a liberal, but has shown a lack of enthusiasm in the past for National trying to win over Maori at the ballot box.

The odds must be on Williamson opting for the status quo, with the Maori Party getting some juicy concessions from National in return for their acquiescence.

Turia's very public and very effusive celebration of the board's verdict amounts to a cleverly done ratcheting up of the price National will have to pay for her to save face.

The clever politics for National would be for Williamson to announce that Wanganui will remain Wanganui on the same day the Government unveils its pending decisions on the rewrite of the foreshore and seabed law which is bound to go heavily in the Maori Party's favour.

In the meantime, National might indulge in some lateral thinking. There are at least two other solutions. Wanganui and Whanganui could alternate as the official name every six months. Or the city's name could be changed completely. Spellingmistakeville, perhaps. Or perhaps not.