Its use alongside New Zealand does not rewrite history. “Aotearoa” signals something different: whakapapa, prior authority and an unresolved Treaty relationship. The argument centres on recognition: recognition of a name rooted in place, recognition of a culture foundational to the nation. Aotearoa does not compete with New Zealand. The sharper question remains unasked: why does a word older than the state still trigger outrage among people who call this place home?

Source: New Zealand Herald January 01, 2026 23:31 UTC