Petone update
The following is a
submission I have made to the New Zealand Geographic Board regarding the Petone
name change proposal
_______________________________________________________________________
For: Secretary, New Zealand Geographic Board
Petone/Pito One Name Change Submission
General
This submission will object to the proposal to rename Petone
as Pito One.
This submission will argue a case for the retention of the
place name Petone. Points to be made will cover mainly language, history and
social considerations.
Written historical records indicate that there have been
numerous variations in spelling of the name Petone. Generations of social and
economic history have reinforced the Petone name allowing the name to establish
its own character and status. The name is firmly embedded in the Wellington
district psyche with Petone having been the first European settlement. The name
is, in all cultures, regarded as part of the essence of the Hutt Valley.
Translations; Transliterations; Importations
For ease of expression in these arguments I will apply the
omnibus term of transliteration.
The long-time spelling of Petone is as near as it needs to
be to a true and legitimate Maori language name and spelling, that is an
original name. So why not accept the Petone name as it has always been? That is
at the very least since August 1888 when the Petone Borough Council was formed
– previously known as the Town Board.
Here I would
offer the place name Petane* as a very close cousin example along with other
variations of Petone.
*Petane Rd –
Napier district.
*Petane
Marae – Napier district.
Maori transliterated Bethany as
Petane and this became the name of the area. Petane was seized by Maori in
the early 1860s with the idea of attacking Napier. The name of the area
was changed to Bay View in 1924 to avoid confusion with Petone in the
Wellington region.
Petone - I
have seen references to Petoni, Pitoni, Pitone, Pitoone, and Petune. All of
those spellings could be viewed as forms of transliteration before the name
Petone was finally settled on.
If transliteration into the Maori language is acceptable
(see above Bethany/Petane) we should also accept transliteration into English.
The name Petone must be seen as a valid traceable transliteration within both
languages. In its transliteration form the name implicitly serves the purpose
of honouring former Maori pa inhabitants. To which point, no further action is
required.
Original Naming and Spelling
Here I have relied on the National Library website Papers Past. Plus the National Library
listing of maps.
Questions:
There will be a record of some kind for the first use of the name and spelling
of Pito One or Pito-one. The crucial question must be, was that spelling widely
used in any longer term, from when local written records began? Records such as
legal documents, public notices, correspondence, maps, journals and newspapers.
Maps referred to below point to sporadic use only of the name Pitoone
(unhyphenated). Point: Though the Geographic Board has offered a definition of
Pito One the proposal summary has not evidenced any long term use of either
Pito One, Pito-one or Petoone. The board’s proposal summary seemingly relies on
simple hearsay.
Petoni
An early Petoni reference is from the Wellington Independent
(1845) referring to militia movements on the “Karori, Porirua, and Petoni
roads”. There may well be some earlier references. Who can say that Petoni was
not accepted as the original spelling? Petoni (unhyphenated). The vowel “i” in
Maori is invariably pronounced as “ee”. It could be said that in 1845 or
thereabouts Petoni was being recorded as a correct name.
Pitoone Petone
The Maori language publication Karere o Poneke of 22 October 1857, carried an item datelined
“Pitoone Hepetema 30 1857” (September/Hepetema). The point to be made here is
that Pitoone is not hyphenated. Also the end vowel is “e” not “i”.
The National Library records a series of maps with ornately
designed titles. Maps point to sporadic use only of the name Pitoone (unhyphenated)
– and where usage, in map titles, alternated between Pitoone and Petone.
The Evening Post (1888) carried an advertisement for horse
racing at “Hutt Park Racecourse” referencing the “Petone Stakes”. This would
inform us that by 1888 the name Petone had entered common usage. The name
having gone through a transliteration process since 1845 to finally settle as
Petone. The Petone borough was formed in 1888.
Pito-One Rd
I have been unable to trace the date this road was formed
and named. Possibly it was part of the original “Petoni road” mentioned above.
My only comment here is that the name Pito-One Rd (hyphenated according to
current maps) might previously have been regarded as formal recognition of the
original Maori settlement area, while continuing with the Borough name of
Petone.
Maps: The National Library website
carries a number of references to the name Petone. I could locate only one
reference to Pitoone.
An 1873 date is for a map titled “Township of Petone”.
Link: Petone
Nat Lib Link
An 1879 map, advertises Petone building sites to be
auctioned on 31 Jan 1879. Petone
Auction 1879
Pitoone features in a map dated 1886. Titled “Plan of
Pitoone Town Board”. Pitoone
Nat Lib Link.
An 1886 map advertises “Petone Building Sites”. Link:
Petone
Bldg Sites
This series of maps favours the name Petone over Pitoone.
Earliest Petone reference in mapping terms appears to be 1873.
Languages
The Maori language of the early nineteenth century was in
the formative stages of becoming a recognisable written language. English
speaking settlers were responsible for the first written recording of the Maori
language. Dialects and accents on both sides would doubtless have led to
differing translations - and transliterations as already mentioned. Within both
languages as recorded there would have been numerous variations.
If the Geographic Board were to proceed with promulgating
Pito One there would be difficulty in producing an easily understandable
pronunciation. The space between “Pito” and “One” effectively hyphenates
PitoOne. Modern English language grammar rules allow for capitalising within a
word when eliminating a space.
If the proposed name is unhyphenated (Pito One) the
pronunciation and spelling issue continues. My understanding is there is no
double “o” vowel in Maori language spelling. Vowel “o” in Maori is pronounced as
“awe” or “or” - which could exclude Pitoone as the pronunciation might emerge
as “Pit-or-or-nee”. My further understanding is that in vowel sounds “u” is
pronounced as “oo”. Which could produce Petune (spelling) and Pit-oo-nee
(pronunciation). At this point some precise Maori language, grammar, spelling
and pronunciation rules might be satisfied. Just in passing I have heard the
name Petone pronounced on radio as “Pit or nee” or close to that.
The previous two paragraphs are to emphasise the futility in
wanting to impose diction and grammar rules from one language to another. In
social action, anglicised pronunciations, accents and spelling will inevitably
arise, develop and expand so as to confound and bypass the expectations of
linguists. No disrespect to linguists, either English language or Maori
language.
Please note I am not
objecting to Petone as a Maori name or as an English language importation. My
objection turns on the pointlessness of wanting change seemingly for the sake
of change and for a desperate need to prove some arcane and obscure Maori
language point from days long gone.
Economic and/or Social Benefits
If there is to be a name change there are no apparent
economic gains available to Lower Hutt City and the Petone area specifically.
The same could be said for social effects.
Summarising
My case is that common usage progression from 1845 to 1888
disposes of the second vowel “o” and ignores hyphenation to eventually arrive
at Petone. The progression could just as easily have taken up Pitone or have
retained Pitoni. The Petone name has been used formally and socially since 1888
- that is since the Borough formation. The name has been acceptable to all
cultures for now 136 years.
At the time of Borough formation there would not have been
any notions of future amalgamation. Permanence of name and place, from 1888,
would have been regarded as unquestionable.
The transliteration argument, in both languages, should
carry more than sufficient weight to leave the Petone name unchanged. Again, in
the form of either Maori or English transliterations, the name implicitly
serves the purpose of honouring former Maori pa inhabitants. As noted above the
Pito One name has already been recognised in the form of Pito-One Rd, Korokoro.
The spelling “correction” proposal is much more than a
simple correction. It would be on all counts a significant but totally
unnecessary name change. Changing the name after so many years effectively
ignores, disrespects and degrades a proud Petone history. Factually, Petone as
we know it today was built up over those years by New Zealanders of all ethnic
origins. How many thousands having those innumerable ethnic origins, have
participated in the life of Petone all while accepting the name as it is?
If Maori language proponents wish to gain the confidence and
support of the wider culture in revitalising Maori there will have to be a move
away from the inflexible desires of certain influences within Maori culture.
Reverting to archaic naming conventions does not align with the spirit and
purpose of the Maori Language Act which was enacted to promote Maori as a
living language.
Conclusion and Recommendation
My straightforward case is to recommend a common sense
compromise.
The Geographic Board could do no worse than:
1. Formalise and confirm the Petone name
with spelling as it has been and is today. Name to cover the original surveyed
area of Petone as it was when absorbed into Lower Hutt.
2. Name some part of the immediate beach
area as Pito One.
3. Note that the Pito One name has already
been recognised in the form of Pito-One Rd, Korokoro.
In this way two objectives are
achieved:
a. The spelling and name of Petone remains, and
Petone is accepted all round as a heritage and iconic name. Any legal, commercial,
and social sensitivities will be undisturbed.
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