H or no H, it may soon be our own choice

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

There have been bloody revolutions (think of the French, and the overthrow of the Tsar in Russia) and there have been those that have delivered a few bumps and bruises and the odd loss of life (women's suffrage; gay rights).

And there are the quiet revolutions where the overthrow of the established order is achieved bit by bit.

The transformation of Wanganui to Whanganui falls into the latter category (though a bit of claret might have been spotted when the former mayor and Tupoho's Ken Mair took the "H" debate into the boxing ring in a charity bout).

There has always been the river, and then came the district health board, the police and others. Now Wanganui District Council has said it will consider adding the "H" to its name in what will be a fairly seismic shift - and probably quite an expensive one when all the signage and letterheads have to be changed.

As reported in yesterday's Chronicle, even councillor Charlie Anderson reluctantly admitted: "I feel this is where we're headed."

Victory by stealth for those who support the accepted Maori spelling seems the inevitable outcome. It may well come against the wishes of the majority of the citizens of Wanganui, but people adjust to change. Nobody now complains that women have the vote, and gay marriage is gradually becoming more acceptable.

The argument over the spelling has aroused strong feelings in the past, but a lot of people have got over it and moved on. The debate doesn't have the same capacity for antagonism.

Of course, officially the options of "Wanganui" and "Whanganui" are both recognised, and we are all free to make our own choice.

At the end of the day - just like "Petre" - it's only a name.