‘Balance' sought in naming of South Dunedin library

Otago Daily Times

a day ago

Māori and English names could both feature at South Dunedin's new library complex — a move described by the mayor as bringing balance.
The Dunedin City Council yesterday accepted Te Whata o Kaituna, the name gifted by mana whenua, for the overall building.
Councillors at the civic affairs committee meeting also put forward South Dunedin Community Library as the preferred name for public consultation on the library component of the building.
That suggestion came from Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich, who said it was simple and brought an ideal balance between Māori and English.
Council staff are to report back next month regarding consultation on the name for the library.
Mr Radich likened the situation to the national anthem, which he said featured not precisely the same word meanings between two languages, but was sung to the same tune.
"Here we have this one building and two different names that actually mean different things, but they're all about the same tune."
Cr Bill Acklin said Te Whata o Kaituna captured the "flavour" of the building while the library naming would note the largest function within it.
He observed "people got a bit concerned" previously about the absence of English in the naming of Mosgiel's Te Puna o Whakaehu swimming pool complex.
"I think we've got the balance right here," he said.
Cr Acklin added the Mosgiel pool name was not confusing, as could be demonstrated by anyone using Google Maps.
Cr Carmen Houlahan said the council's resolutions about the library were a good compromise.
The two resolutions — recommending the South Dunedin Community Library label for public consultation and accepting Te Whata o Kaituna as the building's name overall — were voted on together and passed 13-1.
Cr Brent Weatherall voted against, saying naming the library separately from the building "complicates the whole situation".
Noting whata described an elevated structure used to store kai, Cr Weatherall said "well, we're storing books here".
Cr Sophie Barker said Te Whata o Kaituna could be translated loosely as "a store room of nourishment for the heart and soul".
The paper given to councillors was presented as being "for noting" after a Te Pae Māori committee meeting, including that the building's name would be Te Whata o Kaituna.
Cr Lee Vandervis pointed out an apparent problem with this — the committee was not a decision-making body and staff could not be "directed" by it.
The council changed the wording to show it accepted the name given by mana whenua.