### ODT Online Tue, 26 Jun 2012
Toitu official after mayor casts vote
By Debbie Porteous
Comments from Dunedin residents deemed as “ignorant” and “thinly veiled racism” were swept aside yesterday as Mayor Dave Cull used his casting vote to break a councillor deadlock on the addition of a Maori name to the Otago Settlers Museum’s title. Mr Cull’s vote means it will now be known as “Toitu Otago Settlers Museum”, rather than the name being referred back to the community development committee for further consideration.
● Cr Richard Thomson “One or two” people had told him they would not like a Maori name for anything. “In fact, a number of views presented to me were thinly veiled racism.”
● Cr Kate Wilson said it was “about time we got over ourselves and allowed ourselves to acknowledge our Maori heritage”.
● Cr Chris Staynes “In this city’s history, we [the council] have allowed a few small-minded conservative individuals to influence us in our decision-making. That should not continue.”
● Mayor Dave Cull described the emails he received about the new name as “at best ignorant” and at worst “just plain bigoted”.
The poll found most people preferred the museum’s name to remain “Otago Settlers Museum”.
Read more
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ODT Online Polls (unscientific):
What is your preferred renaming choice for the Settlers Museum?
54% (1314 votes) said they prefer “Otago Settlers Museum”.
Is Toitu: Otago Settlers Museum the right name for the redeveloped museum?
76% (537 votes) said No.
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Related Post:
31.5.12 The ‘happy’ little renaming of our leading social history museum
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
What if? Dunedin... 