The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament has affirmed that lawmakers can use Māori alongside English without further objections after Deputy PM Winston Peters sought to restrict its use.**
New Zealand Parliament Speaker Stands Firm on Aotearoa Usage Amid Controversy**
New Zealand Parliament Speaker Stands Firm on Aotearoa Usage Amid Controversy**
Speaker Gerry Brownlee defends the right to refer to New Zealand as Aotearoa, refuting calls for a referendum on the indigenous name.**
The Speaker of New Zealand's Parliament, Gerry Brownlee, has reiterated his support for the use of the country's Māori name, asserting that the term Aotearoa will continue to be recognized in parliamentary proceedings despite opposition from some lawmakers. In a statement made during a session on Tuesday, Brownlee addressed concerns raised by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who argued that Aotearoa should not be used without a public referendum.
"Aotearoa is part of our identity," Brownlee emphasized, citing its presence on official documents like passports and currency, as well as in the Māori version of the national anthem. He noted that parliamentary discourse can encompass any of New Zealand's three official languages—English, Māori, and New Zealand sign language—without restrictions. This ruling comes amid a heightened focus on the rights and recognition of Māori people in New Zealand.
Tensions escalated when Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March, who immigrated to New Zealand from Mexico in 2006, referred to the country as Aotearoa during parliamentary discussions. Peters, asserting his Māori heritage, argued it was inappropriate for someone who is relatively new to the country to dictate its name. He and fellow party member Shane Jones raised concerns about the implications of using Aotearoa without a broader consensus.
While participants in the discussions have varying connections to the name Aotearoa—historically used primarily for New Zealand's North Island—many non-Māori have embraced it in solidarity with indigenous communities. Brownlee suggested incorporating both Aotearoa and New Zealand for clarity; however, he maintained that the name should not prompt further deliberations.
Peters, disagreeing strongly with Brownlee's ruling, stated that while he respects Māori, he would decline to respond to any questions posed using the name Aotearoa. The dialogue surrounding the name reflects broader societal changes, as advocacy for Māori language and rights has surged in recent years. In 2022, a petition promoted by the Māori Party received over 70,000 signatures urging a formal change to Aotearoa.
As discussions around identity and nomenclature continue, the current administration has placed emphasis on prioritizing English communication within government, unless explicitly tied to Māori issues. The ongoing push by the Act party to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi is also indicative of the complex and evolving relationship between New Zealand's governmental framework and its indigenous peoples.
