I'm not a Kiwi, but I think the idea of using Maori names is rather charming. There is nothing at all wrong with "North Island" and "South Island"; they are functional and easy to remember. They're quite comfortable, too, if you live in New Zealand, and they've been used for a very long time. But they are at the end of it all rather nondescript terms, not so much names as geographical descriptions. Like talking about "my first child" and "my second child", or "my eldest" and "my youngest" instead of using their names. Not so bad as it sounds, of course -- I think the Chinese have a habit of calling their children like that -- but it would be nice if the two islands actually had names.

I am Maori so of course I embrace the inclusion of these titles for our Islands..I think they are Beautiful.. For all those who disagree with the inclusion of these titles...thanks for slapping Maori in the face!!! "Who cares?" "Let's not waste time and resources on these kind of things"....it is not a waste of time it is something that was taken away from us and should have been sorted a long time ago...and who cares?...Umm...Maori care...and obviously some without Maori heritage, which is great THANK YOU :) I am in Hawaii and hearing the names of their Islands is very refreshing...Maui, Oahu...etc.. Beautiful!!!... They are proud to be able to say that although they are a state of a America they have been given FREEDOM to keep their traditional names. It's about time Maori where given that right as well.

Carl Hawker has a very sensible suggestion: "Te Ika-a-Māui for the northern one, and Te Wai Pounamu for the southern island"

It's about time the islands had official names.

Both islands are part of NEW ZEALAND.

They are not independent as states, so shouldn't be treated or viewed as anything but WHOLE... they are a part of each other.

Think of the origins of an "Island". Banks Peninsula was originally thought to be an Island and Stewart Island was originally thought to be part of the mainland (reference: http://www.transitofvenus.co.nz/explorations/imggal/cooks_pg8.html), yet both of these errors were fixed. Waiheke is an Island, Great Barrier and the Chathams are all islands. They are islands OF New Zealand (the mainland).

IMHO, this proposal is effectively splitting New Zealand into two, when it is actually one.

Despite the Geographical Board and the other lefties I will continue to live in the North Island and go for my holidays in the South Island.

anon #44 wrote: "I'm not Maori, but I want more Maori stuff everywhere. Because I'm a little sick of NZ as the 'little Britain' in the Pacific. Eurocentric much?"

When asked my ethnicity I respond "human being". This rejection of nationality or race as a label stems directly from my "western philosophical tradition", which I can trace back to Aristotle, and before him, to some of the oldest books in the world. Some of these philosophies are far more rich and potent than either religion or nationalism and it is astonishing to me that bigotry persists nonetheless. The NZGB proposes to officially recognise all the names that are currently in use. If you have an alternative they're inviting your opinions. How can you manufacture a grievance out of that? We hear so much about the "grievance industry" but mostly it's the "white" folks bitching here.

Is changing of the name that hard and expensive? I don't expect the government and other business companies to straight away printing our new name cards, maps and address books (what say you). But I think accepting the facts that 1) there are Maori names; 2) it's better than North & South; and 3) it's a superficial change anyway so why not change it?

I'm not Maori, but I want more Maori stuff everywhere. Because I'm a little sick of NZ as the 'little Britain' in the Pacific. Eurocentric much?

For those that suggest the Maori names would be hard to pronounce...isn't it about time you learned how to?

Let's not waste time and resources on this kind of thing. There are more important matters requiring our attention at this time (of recession) -- or at any other time.

What a waste of time. Who cares? This NZ Geographic Board (who I'd never heard of until the W(h)anganui fiasco) are a load of academic bozos who have never had a proper job just trying to justify their existance. Get rid of these nitwits and let the 250 IRD staff keep their jobs.