'H' debate rises anew

Mayor Annette Main has no comment.

The drums have started beating for another debate around the use of the letter "H" in the name Wanganui.

While the Geographic Board has given its ruling and government departments have already adopted it, the Wanganui District Council has not.

But a news release from mayor Annette Main this week has ruffled some feathers and some councillors say it is time to air the debate again.

The issue has been reignited following news that Wanganui has been named one of the world's Smart21 Communities for 2014 by the Intelligent Community Forum. It means the city is in line for the prestigious designation of Intelligent Community of the Year in June 2014.

While the US-sourced announcement does not use the "H", Ms Main's news release does, and it is this discrepancy which has reignited debate.

Councillors Ray Stevens, Rob Vinsen and Jack Bullock believe it needs to be on the council agenda sooner rather than later.

The council's current policy is to spell Wanganui without the "H" unless it refers to the river, the constituency, or is in the Maori language or refers to iwi.

Mr Stevens said whatever spelling was used, the council must be consistent. "The Intelligent Community Forum has been sold the package without the 'H'," he said.

"The Crown has a policy for most spellings with the 'H' but we have a different policy. If it is to be changed, then it's now time for it to be re-debated, bearing in mind that we should again consult with our community because it's their community and not just ours as 13 elected members," Mr Stevens said.

Mr Vinsen said while people could choose to spell it with or without the extra letter, the mayor's media release touched on a matter of council policy.

"We should be concerned about council policy, though - specifically that it is consistent. This press release refers to the city of Wanganui and it is a breach of council protocol to spell it differently. If this is going to be changed, let's do so by discussing and voting on it."

Mr Vinsen said he was happy to reopen debate on the policy and for the policy to be changed, but until that was done the current policy should apply.

Mr Bullock said at a meeting with iwi that he chaired he was asked what the council's policy was. He said it was something the incoming council needed to discuss and suggested that in the meantime councillors should start consulting the community in their own ways.

He believed the community view had "moved along a lot" since the issue was first raised.

"I think there will be a big change in how people view it nowadays," Mr Bullock said.

Ms Main told the Chronicle she did not want to comment.