Robertson Grant: Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — In Committee 
Robertson Grant: Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:670;Page:16935] 
GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to take a call on the Whanganui Iwi (Whanganui (Kaitoke) Prison and Northern Part of Whanganui Forest) On-account Settlement Bill. It is my first call in the Committee Stage. Obviously along with other members Labour members support this bill but we would have liked the questions that my colleague the Hon Nanaia Mahuta asked to be answered by the Minister in the chair the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations. It is a pity that the Minister did not choose to do that when he had the opportunity. 
I turn to the title of the bill. As the buddy MP for the Whanganui electorate I want to take a call on the amendment to the title. When I have visited that particular region the question of the pronunciation “Wanganui” versus “W’anganui” or “Fanganui” is something that people have raised with me many times. As a lad brought up in the South Island—not unlike the member in the Chair Eric Roy—when I have seen an “h” in the word I have been moved to say “Fanganui” because that is what it has looked like to me. So it is interesting to note the change that has been made to clause 1. There is a move from what we would have said in the past “Wanganui” to “Whanganui” but I have learnt as the buddy MP for this electorate that “Whanganui” is not pronounced “Fanganui” but “W’anganui”. It is something that I think is important to note. The amendment to the title clause changes “Wanganui” to “Whanganui” which is pronounced “W’anganui” not “Fanganui”. 
Carmel Sepuloni 
: Not “Fanganui”? 
GRANT ROBERTSON 
: No. That is something that perhaps people who are not from the area do not know and it is an important change to this title clause— 
Hon Member 
: The South Island in particular. 
GRANT ROBERTSON 
: It is. It is difficult for people who are not from the area. I know that the member who is from the area Tariana Turia when she is saying the Maori word for family says “w’anau” rather than “whanau” and to the local iwi that difference is important. 
I raise this issue because it is a significant change in the sense that this is the first bill with this word in it to come before the House since Maurice Williamson as the Minister for Land Information acknowledged that both “W’anganui” and “Wanganui” were acceptable forms of pronunciation of “Whanganui” but not “Fanganui” because that is pronouncing the “h” in a way that the local iwi do not do—as evidenced by Tariana Turia. I wanted to note that the change to the title clause is significant. This is the first bill since the Government acknowledged that either spelling of the word was acceptable and it is worth noting that because I know that it was a decision that the Government found difficult. Maurice Williamson grappled with it over a period of time then allowed for both options. I know there are people in the city of Whanganui who would like to see one or the other chosen but this is a compromise. 
Carmel Sepuloni 
: But not “Fanganui”? 
GRANT ROBERTSON 
: No; clearly that would be incorrect I say to Ms Sepuloni because that is not the correct pronunciation. This title clause marks a significant shift in the way that legislation that involves this region is written and I think it was important for someone to recognise that when we came to this particular clause. Thank you.