Mum’s anger as nursery shortens daughter’s name ‘because it’s too hard to pronounce’

The story of a mother who was angered after her daughter’s nursery shortened the girl’s name saying it was ‘too hard’ to pronounce has resurfaced online. 

Two years ago, the story of then five-year-old Mahinarangi Tautu, whose name means ‘moon in the sky’, made headlines when it emerged that her name was previously shortened to just ‘Rangi’ by daycare teachers who found it ‘too hard to pronounce’.

And despite the name being described as one of the most beautiful in the world, Mahinarangi, from Palmerston North on the North Island of New Zealand,  became the centre of ridicule when she started attending school.

According to her mother Paris, fellow pupils didn’t even try to pronounce the child’s name, and laughed at it which left her upset.

She added that at the time, Mahinarangi was so distraught by the bullying, she didn’t even try to correct people when they mispronounced her name. 

When the story first emerged two years ago, Paris (pictured with her daughter) said other school children laughed at her daughter’s name and didn’t even bother to try and pronounce it

Paris Taut added: ‘Can you imagine your child being too embarrassed to say their name because people won’t make a decent effort to pronounce it properly?

‘I am sad that in 2021, in Aotearoa, a five-year-old girl has lost the pride that comes with her beautiful name.’ 

Describing the provenance of the name Mahinarangi, Paris said it had been passed down through several generations and holds immense significance to the family. 

She continued: ‘Mahinarangi is a prominent tūpuna in my iwi. I have taught my daughter the meaning of her name and how much mana it has. 

‘I tell her to be strong and proud just like her tūpuna was.’

According to Paris, she used to live in Australia, but moved to New Zealand when she found out she was pregnant.

She said: ‘I wanted my daughter to be surrounded by her own culture and not have to worry about things like this!’ 

To ensure her teacher’s daughters would be able to pronounce the name Mahinarangi, Paris explained to them how to say it. 

According to her mother, Mahinarangi now feels a sense of pride when people do their best to pronounce her name 

But, she said at the time: ‘When I went to pick her up one day I heard her being told off because a teacher was calling her ‘Rangi’ and she wasn’t responding. 

‘She was two and had no idea who Rangi was. I pulled her out the same week.’

After the incident, Paris moved Mahinarangi to a preschool, which she was was very supportive.

She added that she had also helped her daughter to overcome any embarrassment and to not be afraid to correct her peers.  

‘I have taught her to break down her name into single syllables to educate people and help them with correct pronunciation. She feels a sense of pride when people give it a go.’