And in breaking news that will make someone rather happy ..

New Zealand considers changing its name to Aotearoa to confront its past
As the people of New Zealand confront their nation's troubled past with colonization and denying the Maori people rights, a name change for the island nation is being considered as a part of its own reckoning.

A petition that aims to change the Dutch anglicized name of New Zealand to its indigenous Maori designation of Aotearoa has collected more than 70,000 signatures, prompting a parliamentary committee to consider the idea."

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KiwiBird · 36-40, F

Not Breaking news at all. Been talked about for years and public sentiment is for the change is gathering momentum. Currently in a lot of news etc both names are often used. It will change and so will the flag...it may take time. I think the Head of State the British Monarch currently Queen Lizy will get the boot as well.

Convivial · 26-30, F

@KiwiBird ok... Semi breaking!
Sheesh, it's a tough audience!

Scribbles · 36-40, F

@KiwiBird are you for the change?

The more people see positive change the less resistant they are to it, I think.

There's some very minor changes in my country in which we are finally starting to rename some locations from derogatory, racist, and colonial terms. It's embarrassing that it's taken this long tbh. It's been going well from what I can find. Which means hopefully progress can be made towards some actual restoration of traditional place names. I think it's important to acknowledge the native knowledge of the landscape and their history.

KiwiBird · 36-40, F

@Scribbles Absolutely, I use Aotearoa all the time. I mean what does an Anglicised Dutch Name mean to anyone that lives there Māori, descendants of English settlers or immigrants. I don't know what country you are referring to when you talk about changes being made. Although I think you are in the Northern Hemisphere.

Many place names in Aotearoa already have Māori names. Most of our significant Mountains now have their Māori name and the names James Cook gave them are being forgotten. Māori names are now being used more and more for native birds. Words like Whānau for family, Mahi for work now in common usage. Australia is more reluctant to make similar changes.

Our National Anthem is in both languages. Te Reo and English. Australia can't really do this.....over 300 separate and distinct languages. Aotearoa has only one. Te Reo or the Language. The Australian Aboriginal has been around some 60,000 years the Māori in Aotearoa around 800. Yes 800. ...so we have one of the earliest settled countries in Australia next to maybe the last one settled in and around 1250 Aotearoa.