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The Soap Box: Should Jacinda accept Ratana baby name offer?

Author
Barry Soper,
Publish Date
Thu, 25 Jan 2018, 5:26AM
The agnostic Ardern was even invited to have the baby baptised by the church. (Photo \ File)
The agnostic Ardern was even invited to have the baby baptised by the church. (Photo \ File)

The Soap Box: Should Jacinda accept Ratana baby name offer?

Author
Barry Soper,
Publish Date
Thu, 25 Jan 2018, 5:26AM

Think about it, supermum Jacinda Ardern has been given the opportunity of scoring a bit of diplomatic detente with the American blonde bomb blast Donald Trump, while at the same time probably ensuring a safe seven Maori seats for Labour in the elections ahead.

Her June delivery to an expectant nation will be keenly watched, with a puff of smoke from the remote delivery suite, of course, signalling the arrival.

After partner Clark has puffed on his finest Havana, then the diplomatic deliberations will have to begin - whether to appease the kids in their Pt Chevalier street, giving the first baby the long list of names submitted for the Prime Minister's approval, or to make what could be a profitable political decision.

The first Labour PM in almost a decade to visit Ratana Pa was offered what was described as a significant gift and its acceptance will mean everything to Maoridom - the name Te Waru, meaning eight, commemorating the 8th of November, 1918, the date when the prophet Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana had the divine revelation that led to the founding of the Ratana Church.

The agnostic Ardern was even invited to have the baby baptised by the church.
She gave her hallmark broad smile, before declaring that she's yet to decide whether to accept the offer.

But while she's contemplating it, which the church concedes is the first time they'd heard of a child being called Te Waru, she might consider Donald as another name, commemorating another significant 8th of November, last year when against all odds Trump was elected to office. Surely the super vain Don couldn't help but be impressed, even if he did think Ardern was Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife on their first encounter when she was holding her pregnancy secret.

When you think about it, Eight is an entirely appropriate name for a Kiwi kid, given the number eight fencing wire mentality that blokes in this country are so well known for when it comes to improvisation, innovation and invention.
Who knows where little Eight Gayford might end up, given the start a name like that would give him or her - yes well eight's gender neutral, which would surely make the decision even easier.

These are the sorts of heady, baby step decisions that Ardern will now have to contemplate during the delivery countdown, along with who will be the Godfather. On that front, she joked it could be Winston Peters - or was it a joke?

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