Is it time New Zealand officially becomes Aotearoa?

A recent petition signed by 70,000 people suggested that it was time to change the official name of New Zealand to Aotearoa. This comes amid growing acceptance of the use of te reo in the public setting. But not everyone agrees that the official name of New Zealand should change. And there is also debate about whether Aotearoa is the right name to represent the whole country.   So is this the time to hold a debate? And what names should we be considering as we look to the future?  Today, former broadcaster, MP and current Māori Party President John Tamihere joins Damien for a discussion about history and the words that have been used to describe these islands.  Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Damien VenutoEditor/Producer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.