VANESSA LAURIE / Stuff
Stratford elected members have decided on a name for their district’s new pool facility: Wai o Rua – Stratford Aquatic Center. (File photo)
A Taranaki town known for its Shakespeare identity and naming ritual has slipped tradition after winning a title in reo Māori for its new $ 20 million pool.
The swimming center, which will be completed in the coming months, will be known as Wai o Rua – Stratford Aquatic Center.
But the decision to adopt the name, donated by Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine and Ngāti Maru iwi, did not come without debate.
At a Stratford District Council policy and services meeting this week, community services director Kate Whareaitu explained why the name of the Portia St facility is special.
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She explained Wai o Rua translates directly to ‘water of Rua’, which recognized two local tūpuna (ancestors): Rua Taranaki (Taranaki Maunga), and Ruaputahanga.
Stratford’s too reo Māori name, Whakaahurangi, means to look at the stars, and is based on the story of Ruaputahanga lying down to rest near where the Kopuatama Cemetery is, and looking up.
Rua, also translates to two, and connects with the two waterways – Konini River and the Pātea River – from which Stratford extracts water, Whareaitu said.
Simon O’Connor / Stuff
Elected members discussed the name at a meeting Tuesday. (File photo)
While she said “the council has no formal naming policy”, 70 of his paths were nominated to match his Shakespeare identity.
The Bard was not mentioned in the meeting, but a number of elected members spoke in favor of the bilingual name, while some had reservations.
Councilman Rick Coplestone said he looked up Wai o Rua online, and it had “a lot of different” translations.
Coplestone said the name is “beautiful”, but the pool will be for the next generation, so all local schools should come up with a title and “give the council a hand”.
“We’re just the old gray haired people throwing a name around at the moment,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Alan Jamieson said he was in favor of getting the community’s opinion on the name, and councilor John Sandford asked in what order the name would appear on the building.
In response to Sandford, Whareaitu said to reo Māori first would be the “preference of iwi”.
“I personally think it should be the Stratford Aquatic Center, then the Māori name under it,” Sandford said.
Neil Volzke, mayor of the district, spoke in favor of the “easy to say, easy to read and spell” name and iwi preferences.
“The story behind it is great, I love it, it’s fantastic,” Volzke said. “We need to respect the protocols that are in place.”
Councilor Min McKay warned that elected members “must be careful” in judging the name given by iwi.
“It’s so much more than the different translations of the name.”
Councilor Jono Erwood agreed – it would be an “insult to us not to listen to what they say”.
“The story is there, it’s our story.”
Sven Hanne, CEO of the council, reminded councilors that the three iwi did not just “pick something out of the sky”.
“I think iwi actually deserves a lot of credit.”
The motion to accept the name was proposed by Councilor Erwood and seconded by Councilor Peter Dalziel. Councilor Coplestone voted against the motion, but it was still passed.