recognising Māori heritage after kids’ campaign
Maungatapu School students understand the importance of a name more than most.
For two years they have been working to change the name of a local park to recognise its Māori heritage.
Now their mahi has paid off after Tauranga City Council commissioners approved the dual naming Rotary Park in Maungatapu at a meeting on Tuesday.
It will now be named Ōpūpū – Rotary Park.
Maungatapu School student Kaida-Miharo Weti, 10, told the meeting the local hapū knew the park as Ōpūpū named for the abundance of pūpū or periwinkle sea snails.
Frankie Te Kani, 11, said the school often used Ōpūpū as a place of study and learning.
Work to change the name started with the students writing letters to the council in 2021, Frankie said.
Those students had since left the school but were continuing their work, he said.
Link to article: Tauranga park Rotary Park to be given dual name recognising Māori heritage after kids’ campaign - NZ Herald
