new internationalist
issue 261 - November 1994

...that have always intrigued you about the world will appear in this,
your section, and be answered by other readers. Please address
your answers and questions to ‘Curiosities’.

How is Aotearoa pronounced?

Contrary to the answer given in NI 235, Aotearoa is not pronounced Ow-tee-a-ro-a. Good grief!

It is composed of three Maori words:

Ao (which means ‘cloud’): pronounce as the two English words ‘ah’ and ‘awe’. Keep them short and glide together.

Tea (which means ‘white’): Say ‘e’ as in ‘ten’; ‘a’ as in ‘fast. A good approximation is the English word ‘tear’ (rhymes with ‘pear’ ) but leave off the ‘r’

Roa (which means ‘long’): The ‘r’ is tapped like a clipped ‘l’ and not trilled as in Scottish. Vowels as above.

If in doubt ask a Polynesian (Maori, Tahitian, Tongan or Samoan). But ensure they do not compromise with English by pronouncing ‘a’ as in ‘fat’ or ‘fate’.

Ian Ascott
Christchurch, Aotearao/New Zealand

Which country has been under colonial rule for the longest time?

Further to the answer given in NI 260, Malta is a contender for having had the longest period of colonialism – whilst retaining a vigorous and non-submissive identity of its own. I define ‘colonial rule’ as the domination of a cultural and territorial entity by people who are mostly neither born there nor owing it their primary allegiance.

Here’s Malta’s history:

pre 600 BC	Neolithic and Bronze Age farmers
c. 600 BC	Carthaginian colony developed from Phoenician trading post Advert
218 BC	Roman occupation after Punic wars
395 AD	Byzantine occupation
870 AD	Arab occupation
1091 AD	Norman, German and Spanish rule
1531 AD	Islands ceded to Knights of St John (a celibate order derived from the European Catholic aristocracy)
1788 AD	French occupation and revolt by the Maltese people.
1800 AD	British rule
1964 AD	Independence from Britain

Does nearly 2,600 years count as the longest?

Lesley Misrahi
St Pauls Bay, Malta

If ‘crack’ cocaine is more potent than cocaine powder why is it cheaper?

Duncan Wood
Weeting, UK

What is the title and who published JB Priestley’s novel about the
two men who founded the ‘Institute of Imagistics’?

Anne Travers
Leeds, UK

Can anyone tell me if there are any environmental organizations which take direct action
of a militant nature against those responsible for destruction of the rainforest
in South and Central America and in South East Asia?

S Davies
London, UK

How, where and when did the tradition of female circumcision (or genital mutilation) originate?

Tariq M M Antar
Khartoum, Sudan

Six million is the figure commonly given for the number of people killed in the Nazi Holocaust.
Has anyone got a more precise figure?

Jamie Janson
Watlington, UK

Which, if any, of the British commercial banks has cancelled its Third World debts –
particularly in regard to sub-Saharan Africa?

Liza Sandell
Suva, Fiji

If you have any questions or answers please send them to Curiosities,
New Internationalist, 55 Rectory Road, Oxford OX4 1BW, UK,
or to your local NI office (click here for addresses).