KiwiParent from Parents Center NZ Test Volume | Page 68

what’s in

a name?
The thorny issue of what to call your new baby absorbs a lot of
attention for expectant parents. There are many things to take
into account… do you want to use a family name, the name
of someone you admire, or perhaps a name that has a special
resonance for you and your family? This is a huge decision that
will last – literally – a lifetime.
This year, during Te Wiki o te
Reo Maori 1-7 July 2013 (Maori
Language Week) Kiwis are being
encouraged to consider giving
their little one a Maori name.
Maori names used to be closely
linked with waka, history, origin
stories and identity. Before the
time of colonisation, surnames
were not a feature amongst
Maori, but this changed after the
British arrived and introduced
‘Christian’ and surnames. At this
time, children were often given
non-Maori names by teachers
and even midwives as they were

more familiar and easier for
non-Maori to pronounce.
Even today, there can be some
reluctance to giving a new baby
Maori names: parents want to
avoid the hassle of continual
mispronunciation and questions
of “how do you spell that?”
There may be a perception of
disadvantage and of course the
influence of mass media can be
powerful. Popular names often
reflect the popularity of TV and
movie stars, successful sporting
personalities and the ever
fashionable royal family.

So why would you consider giving a
Maori name to your baby?
Besides being an intrinsically Kiwi
thing to do, you might like to choose
a Maori name for your new boy
or girl because it acknowledges te
reo Maori as one of New Zealand’s
three official languages – the other
two are English and sign language.
It could be a way that you celebrate
your Maori heritage or your
recognition of Maori as holding a
special place among this country’s
many cultures.
Many people choose names which
translate as a characteristic that
you’d like your child to have, such
as Areta – ‘noble’, Rawiri – ‘beloved’
or Ngaio – ‘clever’. Check out some
of the Maori names on the next
page – not only are they beautiful
to say, but have powerfully positive
translations and will stand out from
the crowd of current popular names,
which tend to be European in origin.
Sometimes the Maori version of an
English will be a perfect fit for your
baby – such as Hemi which is a

Maori version of James and
Makareta, the translation of
Margaret. Naming your child in a
way which honours a respected
elder in your family, or even an
admired ancestor would be certain
to delight the extended family.

Of course, you don’t have to be
Maori to choose a Maori name
for your little boy or girl. Kiwis
descended from other nationalities
often choose a name that reflects
their connection with their adopted
homeland and respects the
indigenous people.
Whatever name you choose for your
baby, it is a good idea to consider
carefully before you fill out the birth
cert