[Talk-nz] Place names

[Andrew Davidson]

On 12/11/21 16:45, Mike Kittridge wrote:
> 
> With that said, if you've got an official NZ english language link that 
> states that macrons are part of the NZ english written language, then I 
> agree that macrons should be included. That really should be the 
> decision maker ;)

That's not really how English works. There is no equivalent of the 
Académie Française that sets rules on what is or isn't NZ English.

Another problem is that languages evolve. I have a copy of:

https://www.dunmore.co.nz/p/education-fit-to-print-the-writing-editing-style-guide-for-aotearoa-new-zealand

which was published in 2010. It tells me that "macrons are not used in 
popular English-language publishing, such as newspapers". It also states 
that "the New Zealand Geographical Board ... does not use macrons at 
present"

Picking up a NZ newspaper, watching some NZ TV, or browsing NZ websites 
will tell you that the first point is no longer true. Some media 
organisations have explicitly stated that they now do:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/96578644/why-stuff-is-introducing-macrons-for-te-reo-maori-words

The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary was published in 2005, so its even 
more out of date. As the Dictionary Centre at Victoria Uni closed in 
2012 this may well be the last version.

All you've got to go on is what you can read for yourself or range of 
style guides that are used in NZ. For example:

https://www.digital.govt.nz/standards-and-guidance/design-and-ux/content-design-guidance/inclusive-language/te-reo-maori/