Iwi explain Remutaka proposal

Wairarapa iwi are defending their push to rename the hills between Hutt Valley and Wairarapa as Remutaka.

In submissions to the Waitangi Tribunal, iwi Rangitane and Ngati Kahungunu said it was early white settlers who assumed power and wrongly renamed the landscape, thinking their language and names were more important.

The proposal to use Remutaka – meaning to sit down – comes as the tribunal, in its new report for the Wairarapa and Tararua region, said the name change would be recommended to the Geographical Board.

Rangitane o Wairarapa cultural services adviser Mike Kawana said it was important to have the history of the mountain range returned.

"For us it is really about the mountain, to have the name mean something. From our records, Remutaka is the name that has the meaning, has the history behind it and the story as to where it came from.

"It was our ancestors that gave the name while on a journey. It is our heritage."

Mr Kawana said neither tribe wanted to force blanket name changes. There would be no expectation for Rimutaka Hill Road, Rimutaka Prison or any facility with the name Rimutaka to adopt the change unless authorities and various owners willingly chose to.

He said that, during the 1980s, when the questions were being asked and Remutaka could have been suggested, Maori language had almost disappeared in Wairarapa.

"You could have counted on one hand how many native speakers we had here, so we didn't have the people who had the historical knowledge, so it could easily have been missed." Wairarapa now had the knowledge, books and manuscripts to support the return of the name Remutaka.

- © Fairfax NZ News