Canterbury Mornings

A Christchurch trust has pocketed nearly 19 thousand dollars for "cultural advice" on the name change for QEII. A council spokesman says the Matapopore Charitable Trust was engaged to ensured Mana Whenua values and narratives have been properly represented. "The cost associated with the name is for the time and research involved in developing it."The Trust's services cost $18,800. QEII will now be known as Taiora QEII. The council manager says "as per the council's protocol, the gifted Māori name is presented first."Chris Lynch spoke to the Executive Director of Taxpayer Union Jordan Williams, who says this not okay at all and at some point the Council and members of the public simply need to start saying no.