Jim Bunny Rogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz

On one hand I was slammed as 'crass, disgraceful and disrespectful”. On another, thanked and applauded for my 'positive”, 'uplifting” and 'long overdue' proposition.

It was last week's page 2 column headed ‘Striking a blow for what's right' – a conscience piece on changing some of Tauranga's colonial English street and place names to more relevant Maori names. They were shallow thoughts according to one punter, a little ray of sunshine to another.

However, I willingly suffer the slings and arrows at the same time I clutch the acclaim. That's the beast. Anyway, the column was polarising and it ended with an invitation for you to have your say. So this week we give over page 2 for reader opinion. The contributions are abridged to accommodate more of them.

Right behind Hunter!

I'm in full agreement with your latest column regarding the total irrelevance of European place/street names which have usurped our beautiful and meaningful Maori nomenclature. No doubt you'll have to put up with the usual dinosaurial abuse and garbage from rednecked ..... but there will be many more like me from the silent majority who will wholeheartedly be right behind you and your sensible push for relevance and plain common sense which arises out of respect for our first peoples.

Keep up and on with your good work, Dave Hancox.

Stop whining

'...people should get over themselves and stop whining about things that happened nearly two centuries ago and concentrate on building a united future for our beautiful country.”

Romy Morgenrood.

Thank you

Hey mate – I want to thank you for this article…rarely is it put under the spotlight.

The long-term effects of the colonial militia era and the biased establishment are showing. The gradual erosion of culture, customs and language has caused inequality for many indigenous groups around the world. I hope articles like this will pave the way for broader understanding of our country's fascinating history.

Daniel Kereikeepa Martin.

Thrilled

'I'd be thrilled if Cameron Rd, Greerton and Pilot Bay had Maori names. I am Pakeha but am constantly upset by one-eyed, historically ignorant New Zealanders. I don't understand why embracing te reo Maori and Maori culture is seen as a threat. Thanks for your article. Robyn-Elizabeth Whalley.

Just leave it alone

'We don't need every place in New Zealand to be given Maori names, nor do we all need to speak the Maori language…do not change the flag, or the name of New Zealand, or its street names. Just leave it alone.” John Pottinger.

Struggling enough

The best way to undermine a sense of belonging and community spirit is to undermine what is familiar to the citizenry. Tauranga people have lived with the familiar names of streets and parks for at least five generations.

New Zealand is struggling enough with separatism today…I do not see any good coming from renaming everything for political reasons. Graeme Faulkner.

A bit peculiar

Hi Hunter – thanks for the well-written, well-reasoned editorial – a keeper. Pete,Tauranga resident.

Column is ‘rubbish'

Hunter – your comments unfortunately reflect you are a very bitter person.

Your comments wishing others in the community to die are quite bizarre. Your column smacks of creating a provocative racial undertone that has no place in The Sun. David Bainbridge.

Out of the gloom…

Thanks for that little ray of sunshine in an otherwise gloomy week. It's not often such positive and uplifting sentiments are heard here in NZ's stale male and pale capital. Well done. Andrew Thorpe.

More Asian street names

Tauranga is a European-style city, not a Maori village…to say Maori heritage is more important because they were here first is to ignore that Tauranga is what it is today largely because of its European history. Maybe we should have some more Asian street names. Kevin Port.

Pronunciation problem

Although I might agree with some name changes, the problem for the majority of Pakeha is the sheer ability to pronounce these new names will be a nightmare.

We already have the weather forecasters using Maori names for many of our towns and cities... I have no idea what they are talking about. Regards, J.Hesse.

Some thanks?

Hi Hunter – I would venture to say if the British forces had not won the military operation in this area, neither you or your business would be alive and operating in this region. You owe them some thanks. Cheers, John Christianson.