Selwyn_Times: November 23, 2022

Selwyn Times Wednesday November 23 2022
24
TE ARA ĀTEA DEBATE
•From page 20
Readers who want to
see a name change
We love the new Rolleston
library and go there regularly.
It’s a beautiful building, full
of interest with a great selection
of books and magazines, good
coffee, comfortable chairs,
friendly staff and well-designed
work and meeting spaces. We
also find the landscaping very
attractive.
Before we ever visited the
building, we had read the publicity
information. There was no
mention of the word library or
where to find it.
We had no idea what or where
the building was. We looked it
up online and were surprised to
read that it was a library.
We drew our local library
staff’s attention to these omissions.
They were surprised that
no mention of Rolleston or
library existed in the publicity
material.
We think the word library is
essential.
It could even be library and
community hub. – Jennifer and
Craufurd Murray
Congratulations to the ratepayers’
association for bringing
the issue of the word library to
the building.
If it is more than a library
then say so. This is not a racist
issue as Anna Clarke suggests
– it’s plain common sense. –
John Willoughby
I am appalled that word library
appears nowhere on the front
of this building, I am so sick of
giving people directions to help
them find it.
Also the name given needs
to be translated to its English
meaning.
Thought should be given on all
our structures to at the very least
displaying both languages.
I feel we still have a long way
to go before the majority of New
Zealanders understand our earliest
cultural language. – Craig
Stare
It absolutely needs the word
library included, preferably at the
start.
Too many public and government
agencies are prominently
pushing the change on signage
and place names from English
to te reo. No one has any idea
what the agencies represent these
days and I for one think if we get
another major disaster in this
country the confusion because
of all of these changes is going to
cause chaos and possible danger
to life. – Karin Northrop
I agree that it is totally absurd
not having the Rolleston library
named as the Rolleston Library.
This building should be titled
Rolleston Library then if they
want to use this Maori title as
well it should definitely be underneath
the English title.
Even if there are other activities
held at the library, it is still
logical to name the building after
the main purpose of the building,
in a manner which everyone
understands.
It is especially confusing for
visitors and tourists to the region.
– Anne Finch
Our simple answer is yes.
Please add the word library, we
didn’t know what that building
was for until we read the article
in the Selwyn Times. – John and
Trish Crawford
How insensitive and morally
wrong is it to have signage on a
council building confusing to
the general community of
Rolleston?
No one disputes the many
attributes this building endorses
with its Maori name. Still, it is
also a library to the larger community
of Rolleston and this
should be recognised by adding
the library word to the existing
signage. – Steven Bryant,
Springston
A big thank you to the Rolleston
Residents Association. With
its enthusiasm we may right a big
wrong.
Add Rolleston Library to the
building, same size as the Maori
version.
As a long time resident of
Selwyn, I welcome a new library
with the usual multiple functions.
– Don Lorking
No wonder every picture of the
so-called mayor shows Sam
Broughton smiling.
Who wouldn’t with a pay
increase of $8400 all paid for by
residents of the borough who are
struggling with the high cost of
living.
I am sure working men and
The wide consensus regarding
the name of Te Ara Ātea is very
clear amongst the wider community
of Selwyn.
Mayor Sam Broughton makes
it clear he is not interested in listening
to the voices of the people
who helped put him back in the
mayoral position.
Broughton has completely
missed the point of the Te Ara
Ātea issue. Selwyn is a multicultural
district, all of whom
will speak their native language
and English as a second language
if they are immigrants here.
What Broughton needs to
understand is that people of all
cultures generally speak and
understand English more than
they do te reo.
If the word library is the
sticking point because it doesn’t
reflect the nature of what is in
that building, then call it Te
Ara Ātea Cultural Centre/
Library.
That way it represents the
meaning of the name gifted and
it is identified by the large majority
of the people of the district to
being a welcoming place to visit
because they know what it is by
its English name.
To completely ignore the
wishes of the majority based on
Broughton’s personal opinion
and sentiment smacks of
arrogance and divisiveness. –
Maureen Scott
I think the name library needs
to be added as well as the Maori
name.
I’ve nothing against the Maori
name but English names seems
to be getting pushed out.
If this an example of cogoverance
I’m not a fan. – Dawn
Henderson
Broughton pay increase
women would love to have that
pay rise.
Absolutely obnoxious. Plus
not listening to the views of
the residents of Rolleston that
the library should be called the
library.
Pleased I did not vote for him.
– M Cole, Lincoln.
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