Is it acceptable for a nursery to change a child’s name because it’s “too hard to say”?
Paris Tautu was enraged when her daughter’s name, Mahinarangi, was shortened by nursery staff who found it difficult to pronounce. The name, significant in Māori culture, translates to “moon in the sky.” This unauthorised change not only disrespected cultural heritage but also led to teasing from other children. Paris is determined to ensure her daughter’s name is respected and correctly pronounced, underscoring the importance of preserving cultural identity through names.
Imagine your child’s beautiful, traditional name being reduced to a nickname because someone finds it “too hard to say.” For Paris Tautu, this scenario was a harsh reality when her daughter, Mahinarangi, had her name shortened by nursery staff without consent. This action wasn’t just a trivial inconvenience; it struck at the heart of cultural identity and respect. Names carry weight, history, and meaning, especially in Māori culture, where names like Mahinarangi connect individuals to their heritage and ancestors. This incident raises a critical question: should institutions have the right to alter traditional names for convenience?
In 2021, Paris Tautu discovered that staff at her daughter’s New Zealand nursery had begun calling five-year-old Mahinarangi by the shortened name “Rangi.” The staff claimed it was easier to pronounce, but they did not seek Paris’s permission before making this change. This disregard for the significance of Mahinarangi’s name—a name that translates to “moon in the sky” and is steeped in Māori cultural heritage—was deeply hurtful.
Mahinarangi’s name isn’t just a collection of syllables; it’s a link to her ancestors and her identity within the Ngāti Raukawa iwi. The Māori tradition of whakapapa, or genealogy, places immense importance on names, which are seen as treasures passed down through generations. For Mahinarangi, the shortening of her name wasn’t a small matter; it was a diminishment of her cultural identity.
The situation worsened as other children began to mock Mahinarangi, refusing to attempt her full name. This led to Mahinarangi feeling ashamed and embarrassed, to the point where she stopped correcting those who mispronounced it. Paris expressed her frustration on social media, highlighting the irony of this happening in Aotearoa, a country that prides itself on its Māori heritage and the use of Māori language in education.
Paris’s anger was not only about the present but also tied to her family’s past. Her ancestors had changed their surname from Perepe-Perana to Phillips due to colonial pressures, a painful history she was determined not to see repeated. Paris has since been teaching Mahinarangi to break her name into syllables, hoping to educate those around her and ensure her name is pronounced correctly.
The broader issue here is one of respect and cultural sensitivity. Names are a fundamental part of our identity, and for many cultures, they carry deep historical and familial significance. When institutions like nurseries decide to shorten or alter names without permission, they are not just making a practical adjustment—they are erasing a piece of that child’s heritage.
This story has sparked a conversation about the need for greater cultural awareness and respect within educational institutions. It’s a reminder that we must all make an effort to respect the names and identities of those around us, no matter how difficult we might find them to pronounce.
