The row over the "h" in Whanganui could be reignited by legislation making its correct spelling a condition of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement with local iwi.

The Waitangi Tribunal has weighed in on the long-running issue in a report on Whanganui land claims.

In a letter to Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell, inquiry presiding officer Judge Carrie Wainwright said the tribunal believed the Crown should overturn its recent decision to allow "Wanganui" as a legitimate spelling in addition to "Whanganui", as it had been established as a "simple misspelling".

KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX MEDIA The battle over the spelling of Whanganui has seen blood shed, with Maori activist Ken Mair and former Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws taking to the ring in a 2011 charity boxing match.

"They are not equally legitimate. One is right and one is wrong."

Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox said Thursday the tribunal was right - and ensuring the correct spelling would likely be addressed as part of the settlement process, including legislation reflecting the tribunal's recommendaton. And it should not stop there, Fox said. A bunch of Maori place names around the country needed correcting, starting with Rimutaka, which was correctly spelt Remutaka, she said.

"Remutaka has a whole story behind it. Rimutaka implies the falling of the Rimu tree, no. that's not the story - so if we get the names right the history follows."

That was the case for a number of place names.

"There's a whole story, a history and a whole bank of knowledge that goes behind those names. and actually if we don't start articulating them properly in this country as a baseline...are we just going to ignore our Maori history, Pre-European.

Judge Wainwright said Maori in Whanganui should have control over their own language, given the need to preserve their culture.

"Control over language is important to any people, but particularly to people whose language is struggling for survival.

"As regards Whanganui, we conclude that tangata whenua should control their own language, and specifically the spelling of names in their rohe (tribal area)."

The debate over the 'h' has raged for years, with Whanganui residents voting against a change in a 2006 referendum.

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Supporters of a change said "Wanganui" was a misspelling that stripped meaning from the Maori name, while opponents said Wanganui had been the city's name for 150 years.

Former mayor Michael Laws was an ardent opponent of adding the 'h', saying it was a "needlessly provocative gesture" and against the wishes of local residents, while Maori activist and Runanga o Tupoho iwi spokesman Ken Mair said the change was needed "to show respect to our name".

The pair took to the ring in a charity boxing match to settle their differences over the name.

In 2008, the Government passed legislation allowing both Wanganui and Whanganui to be used for official geographic matters.

The Land Information Minister at the time, Maurice Williamson, said he had decided to assign alternative names so people had the option of choosing whichever name they preferred, although Crown agencies would spell the city's name as Whanganui.

The issue has reared its head again this year, with the New Zealand Geographic Board consulting on whether to add an 'h' to the name of the Wanganui District.

The consultation process was started after the Wanganui District Council asked the board last December to change the district's name and add the 'h'.

Fox conceded it might take legislation to force a change in attitude.

"There are number of people who absolutely put a stake in the ground and said 'we're going to call it Wanganui no matter what you say', but actually I find that quite a bit arrogant."

MIXED RESPONSES ON THE GROUND

Whanganui locals had a mixed response to the Tribunal's decision.

Ina Puia, 28, from Whanganui did not agree with the ruling.

"A lot of people know it as Wanganui, not Whanganui."



However Azarlea Chadfield, 19, from Whanganui agreed with the decision.

"Wasn't it that at the start?" she said.

Jerrica Gazzard, 19, thought it fine the way it is - that is without the 'h' included, while student Matt Chadwick, 24, thought the 'h' belonged.

"Without the 'h' it doesn't really mean anything."