Whanganui letters: Mars rover could boldly go to ... Pātea hospital site

Pātea Hospital closed in 1990 and the site became derelict. Photo / NZME

Isn't it amazing the information sent back by the Mars rover?

Perhaps we could use it on the old Pātea hospital site. It could boldly go where no council - regional or district - has ever been before. The Minister for the Environment could then compare information. What will happen first? Life on Mars or the clean up of the site?

GEORGE ALCOCK
Pātea

Government department names

I might be easily manipulated but I don't mind that New Zealand appears to be on a journey to change our Pacific paradise's name from New Zealand to Aotearoa, I feel I might even become quite fond of it, but it is a journey and there is no need to push it to warp speed.

What is actually getting up my nose is this push to give government departments Māori names.

Ninety-five per cent of New Zealanders understand English, 5 per cent understand Māori. When people want to talk about a specific government institution, they have to find the English name to understand its purpose, so Māori names are just confusing 95 per cent of the Kiwi population for what good reason.

We know all Māori can understand English, so we are getting up a lot of people's noses for no useful purpose.

GARTH SCOWN
Whanganui

New Zealand history

My faith in human nature is restored. I expected a response from John Archer and he didn't let me down! (Letters, July 3)

The matter under consideration is purely the use of the word Aotearoa in relation to New Zealand. It has absolutely nothing to do with the ... issues in New Zealand's past history.

For your information John, I have been resident in New Zealand for over 70 years and actually do know a smidgen of this country's history.

In future would you please refrain from trying to smokescreen the issue. [Abridged]

D PARTNER
Eastown

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