Opinion: The name “Brenton Harrison Tarrant” (together) should be on New Zealand’s and Australia’s list of banned names for both people and pets.
Apologies to pregnant mothers who have originally planned on giving baby boys this name: The name sounds quite normal, that was until the Christchurch Terror Attacks that changed the look and meaning of this name forever. You will have to think of something else.
Babies are born must be named. That’s the simple reality. But when it comes to naming babies, all names must be decent. Decent names means not one where the child is likely to be mocked or bullied, one where the child will be upset or embarrassed by it (read the case where a 9 year old NZ girl called herself K after her parents named her “Talulah Does the Hula from Hawaii” and the court successfully changed her name). Decent names also means that the name is not one of a terrorist (like Anders Breivik or Adolf Hitler) or one which the child is most likely to be bullied or one which is hateful, or is full of jumbled letters and numbers.
The Department of Internal Affairs and the government should consider banning Brenton Harrison Tarrant as a whole name for boys, girls or trans/non-binary people. This is because not only that the parents will be seen as far right people and support anti-Muslim terrorists, but also because boys with this name will be mocked, bullied and possibly even be sent death threats because they bear the unfortunate name of a terrorist (I don’t condone bullying and it’s wrong to bully others by the way). The child could also be mis-labeled as a terrorist, having physical and emotional and/or mental implications on the child, sometimes with fatal consequences (suicide or violent attacks which result in death). Boys, men and trans people with this name will have a hard time finding jobs or being employed or might not even be able to have a passport and will more likely to be fired or ridiculed at work or even attacked or assaulted in public and are less likely to be accepted by insurance companies. Children with this name are more vulnerable to being attacked at school, bullied, or getting in school fights because they did not choose to name themselves like that and yet gets accused of the name and also because of the status of the name as a terrorist.
In short, if a boy has Tarrant as a surname, the mother and father, by law, should not be allowed to use Brenton Harrison as a name OR Brenton as a first, Harrison as a middle name. Instead, go for something decent, like Armani, Thomas etc. Or something, perhaps, like something that celebrities would name their children if you want to go more exotic or even create your own name — look at Kim Kardashian as an example. (Brenton Harrison Tarrant is an extremely boring name, and far from exotic, by the way).
Vets should also decline the name as well when people adopt or purchase pets from the pet store then register it. This is because once people find out the name of the pet, the pet is put at greater risk of being harmed, killed or maimed. The pet is more likely to be poisoned, run over, or hanged or other awful stuff happening to it because it bears the name of the terrorist. (Naming your pet with such a name also puts yourself at risk, too from harm). Animal cruelty is illegal and inhumane, but to minimise the risk of someone attacking your pet, NEVER give it the name of a terrorist.
To New Zealand Citizens: If your name coincidentally happens to be Brenton Harrison Tarrant, and you fear for your safety, because of your name, or wish not to be associated with such name anymore, you can apply for a name change. It costs $170 NZD. You can also speak to the police if you have received death threats (or have been assaulted) due to your name for your safety. If you have received threats online, go to netsafe or report it to the site where you received the threats. i.e Facebook, or Twitter.
If your pet is named “Brenton Harrison Tarrant” and you have received complaints from your neighbours, because of your pet’s name, or threats, and in addition, after the Christchurch Attacks, you want to distance yourself and your pet from the terrorist, you can go and change your pet’s name. If someone threatens to harm or kill your pet or even yourself due to your pet’s name, call the police straight away. Animal cruelty is not acceptable and can result in a jail time, even if the pet bears a terrorist name. If you see a pet with a name, leave it alone. Don’t let yourself go to prison just because you are left with anger after the christchurch attacks — a criminal record/conviction for animal cruelty is not worth it. Don’t let the terrorist attack leave you with a conviction for animal cruelty or assault or threats to kill. Seek help and counselling if you are left disgruntled or with anger. And never bully someone because of a name they were born with prior to this Christchurch tragedy.
EDIT: People can still name their children either Brenton or Harrison OR Tarrant alone, provided it is just a stand-off name and doesn’t form the terrorist name “Brenton Harrison Tarrant”. Additionally, it is not recommended for anyone to use brenton or harrison as their name if their surname is “tarrant”.
