WELCOME TO WHELLINGTON. 4 September 2009

Cartoon shows a car being driven by Wellington Mayor, Kerry Prendergast, past a large roadsign reading 'Welcome to Whellington'. The mayor says that she has had a stroppy letter from some Otaki kids and it just seemed easier to do it than have a punch-up in the media. Refers to the news that seven pupils aged 11 to 13 at Otaki School's kura kaupapa unit wrote to Wanganui Mayor, Michael Laws in Maori in August 2009 as part of their literacy programme, urging him to insert the letter "h" into the city's name. They were upset with his reply, which said "there are so many deficiencies of both fact and logic in your letters I barely know where to start." He continued, "When your class starts addressing the real issues of Maoridom particularly the appalling rate of child abuse and child murder within Maori society, then I will take the rest of your views seriously," and added, "Perhaps sacking your teacher for allowing such misapprehension to flourish?" Mr Laws invited the girls and their parents to have afternoon tea in his mayoral office, so he could explain the real history of the naming of Wanganui and why it should not be seen as an offence to Maori.

Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).