Kirirua Avenue in Halswell – Kirirua is a te reo Māori name for the longfin eel. Kirirua, longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii), are a species of freshwater eel endemic to New Zealand. They are uniform in colour from dark brown to grey-brown dorsally, and silvery ventrally.

Additional information: Date Named: 30 November 2021

Subdivision: Sabys Estate: 84 Sabys Road. The road names are themed for the wildlife that has been spotted during ecological surveys at Creamery Ponds, which are immediately adjacent to the subdivision site.The Creamery Ponds are a site of ecological significance as it provides habitat for an assemblage of indigenous birds that are representative of freshwater lakes and ponds, including two threatened and at-risk species, and also supports at-risk longfin eel.

A reasonable amount of information from the library for a new street. I had been geocaching in the area and decided to walk the new streets in the area. I shouldn’t be walking more streets as I have a bit of a backlog of streets to research and write up. I would hate to live on this street as one of the residents was playing extremely loud music

Matamoe Drive in Halswell – Matamoe is a te reo Māori name for the shortfin eel. Matamoe, shortfin eel (Anguilla australis), are a relatively large type of eel, dark olive to olive-green in colour, and whitish-grey to silvery ventrally. They are widespread in lowland fresh waterways and live under cover of overhanging rocks and debris.

Additional information: Date Named: 30 November 2021

Subdivision: Sabys Estate: 84 Sabys Road. The road names are themed for the wildlife that has been spotted during ecological surveys at Creamery Ponds, which are immediately adjacent to the subdivision site. The Creamery Ponds are a site of ecological significance as it provides habitat for an assemblage of indigenous birds that are representative of freshwater lakes and ponds, including two threatened and at-risk species, and also supports at-risk longfin eel

A reasonable amount of information from the library website for a new street. No street view for this street and the street runs from Sabys Road to the new Candys Road. Google maps show it as going from Sabys Road to Candys Road but Apple Maps show it as finishing at Paradise Way. I never trust Apple Maps. There is a walkway / cycleway that runs from Quaifes Road through to Candys Road here. There are still houses being built here and most houses are new builds but I did check one house as it looked like an older house. This older house dates from 1995 and I suspect that it used to have a Quaifes Road address but couldn’t see it on street view for Quaifes Road as there were hedges in the way.

Paradise Way in Halswell – Named after the paradise shelduck. Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegate) is a large goose-like duck endemic to New Zealand. Commonly referred to as the “paradise duck”, it is a prized game bird, both the male and female have striking plumage.

Additional information: Date Named: 30 November 2021

Subdivision: Sabys Estate: 84 Sabys Road. The road names are themed for the wildlife that has been spotted during ecological surveys at Creamery Ponds, which are immediately adjacent to the subdivision site. The Creamery Ponds are a site of ecological significance as it provides habitat for an assemblage of indigenous birds that are representative of freshwater lakes and ponds, including two threatened and at-risk species, and also supports at-risk longfin eel.

A reasonable amount of information from the library website for a new street. Houses are still being built on this street. There is a walkway / cycleway that runs from Matamore Drive to Candys Road. Note this is the new Candys Road and not the old Candys Road. There is a playground here and it called Sabys Green.

Tuna Street in Halswell – Tuna is a te reo Māori name for eels. Tuna refers to both shortfin and longfin eel species. These eels are native to New Zealand and are widespread throughout New Zealand freshwater ways.

Additional information: Date Named: 30 November 2021

Subdivision: Sabys Estate: 84 Sabys Road. The road names are themed for the wildlife that has been spotted during ecological surveys at Creamery Ponds, which are immediately adjacent to the subdivision site. The Creamery Ponds are a site of ecological significance as it provides habitat for an assemblage of indigenous birds that are representative of freshwater lakes and ponds, including two threatened and at-risk species, and also supports at-risk longfin eel.

A reasonable amount of information from the library website for a new street. Most houses here were built in 2024 / 2025. The footpath was only on one side of the road which is always annoying. No street view on google maps. There was one house which had a lovely water feature on the front lawn but I wasn’t able to get a photo of it. I was geocaching in the area today.

Silvereye Street in Halswell – Named after a bird, the silvereye. Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), also known as wax-eye, is a very small omnivorous passerine bird of the south-west Pacific. The silvereye was first recorded in 1832 in New Zealand and as an apparently self-introduced bird, it is protected as a native species. The Māori name, tauhou, means “stranger” or more literally, “new arrival”.

Additional information: Date Named: 30 November 2021

Subdivision: Sabys Estate: 84 Sabys Road. The road names are themed for the wildlife that has been spotted during ecological surveys at Creamery Ponds, which are immediately adjacent to the subdivision site. The Creamery Ponds are a site of ecological significance as it provides habitat for an assemblage of indigenous birds that are representative of freshwater lakes and ponds, including two threatened and at-risk species, and also supports at-risk longfin eel.

A reasonable amount of information from the library website for a new street. Only about 5 houses on this short street and there isn’t any street view on google maps for this street. Houses built 2024 / 2025 and too new for me to find any news or gossip for the street. I had been geocaching in the area today.

Beresford Street in New Brighton – Formerly Wilson Street. Named after William Barbour Wilson (1819-1897). Also formerly High Street. Wilson Street and High Street were amalgamated and re-named Beresford Street. Named after Charles William Beresford (1846-1919). Wilson, the first Mayor of Christchurch in 1868, owned land at New Brighton. He was the first chairman of the New Brighton Tramway Company. Wilson Street is first mentioned in the Star in 1878. High Street was the section of Beresford Street from Union Street to Marine Parade. Wilson Street was the section from Richmond Terrace (later Owles Street) to Union Street. Both Wilson Street and High Street were formed in 1890. Wilson Street and High Street were amalgamated to become Beresford Street at a special meeting of the New Brighton Council on 12 August 1907. Beresford was Commander of the Channel Fleet 1903-1905. Harry Hawker (1868- 1947), a councillor 1905- 1909, had suggested that New Brighton street names be changed to the names of British sea captains who had fought in the 18th and 19th century – a gesture linking Christchurch with the home country, was patriotic and emphasised the fact that New Brighton was a seaside suburb. A huge amount of information from the old library website. Note the new library website has less information than the old website.

There were lots of streets named after William Barbour Wilson and I have written about him in connection with those streets. He was a nasty wife beating drunk.

On Papers Past as High Street there were sections for sale in 1892 plus a couple of death notices. In the 1890s Mrs Homersham had a boarding house and there were ads for letting rooms in her house. Wilson Street has sections for sale in 1890 and 1892. A couple of death notices and in 1905 stables were destroyed in a fire.

In 1907 the streets became Beresford Street. In 1908 the street between Union Street and the beach was formed and in 1909 there were sections for sale. There was possibly a Beresford Street in Linwood as well. In the 1020s and 1930s there was a Nurse Miles Maternity Home and it was also called Tiverton Private Hospital. Lots of ads for this private hospital. In 1931 William Miles died at Tiverton 63 Beresford Street and Mary Miles died in 1937. There was also a Nurse Yole’s Maternity Home in the 1930s at 103 Beresford Street.

In 1921 there was a mortgagee sale for Joyland Picture Theatre. In the 1940s there was a Princess Theatre but I wasn’t sure if it was the same theatre as Joyland Picture Theatre.

From the 1950s onwards there seemed to be a lot more businesses on this street. Lots of ads for the dry cleaning business, also Watson’s Motorcycles Company plus there was a coal merchant. In 1987 the supermarket had a fire. Liquorland was frequently mentioned and it was close to the Esplanade Hotel.

In 1990s Seaview Christian Centre got several mentions. There was also Seafield School of English.

Over the decades there were a few bodies found in the river at that end of the street and they usually were elderly or drunk and sometimes both.

I actually walked this street back in March when I was geocaching in the area. There is one house that dates from 1910 but it had been altered so much that I couldn’t tell that it was an older house. several houses were built in 1970 and 1990 and most houses were at the Owles Tce end of the street.

There is a kindergarten plus a ptreschool and nursery. There is a back entrance to the police station. At the Marine Parade end there is still a liquor store but it is now called Super Liquor. There was a huge number of units built in 2025 on the opposite side of the street from several businesses. I ended up comparing street view from 2025 and 2007. The Esplanade Hotel was demolished after the earthquakes. The Seaview Christian Centre and Seafield School of English are now Grace Beach Campus which is part of Grace Vineyard Church. All the new buildings on are Beresford Street on either side of Union Street have been built on two car parks. I am not sure if they are available to buy or rental units or possibly social housing. I did take a screenshot of the Seaview Cristian Centre from street view of 2007.

Colenso Street in Sumner – Named after William Colenso (1816?-1899). Colenso was a missionary, explorer and the printer of the first book ever produced in New Zealand. Part of the Johnstoneville subdivision. A cottage is advertised for let in Colenso Street in the Star in 1884. First mentioned in the Star in 1885 in a report of a meeting of the Sumner Town Board. First appears in street directories in 1911

A small amount of information from the library website. There are several entries online for William Colenso including a Wikipedia page. The first entry for this street on Papers Past was the ad in 1884 for the cottage for let on this street. In 1885 there was a villa and a cottage for sale. In 1890 there were sections for sale plus the street to be formed. In 1892 Mr Wiggins school was mentioned. In 1901 drainage system and septic tanks mentioned and in 1910 sewage was mentioned. Also in 1910 the state of the bridge over the creek was a concern. The street was metalled in 1913. The stormwater drains were completed in 1918. There was a quarry at the end of the street owned by Mr Stemmer. In 1927 it was decided to build a district high school on the street and land was purchased. The school was completed by December 1928. Between 1951 and 1968 flooding in the street was frequently mentioned and at high tide waves would surge up as far as this street. In 1947 it was reported that a resident of this street was missing in the Ballantynes fire but she was found alive. In 1952 the bus route to start going down this street. Apart from a few birth notices and lots of death notices the rest of the entries were about the schools on this street. The Sumner School had it’s 75th anniversary in 1951 and the original school opened with 8 boys and 11 girls. The secondary school was built but taken over by the military in World War Two. There was a second school on this street called Star of the Sea School that opened in 1928.

The houses on this street date between 1910 and 2024. There are 22 houses on this street that date between 1910 and 1920 and at least 2 or 3 of my photos are of houses from 1910. I didn’t get any photos from the end of the street where the schools are and if I am remembering correctly there were lots of children in the grounds of the school and on the footpaths. I actually walked this street in September last year and I hadn’t realised that I am that far behind in researching and writing up my street project.

Mary Quinn Avenue in Halswell – Named after pioneer settler, Mary Quinn. Mary Quinn came from London as a young girl with her family in the 1870s. Mary was a very pioneering woman who due to the death of her parents at a young age carried on farming in the Halswell area as a single woman for many years. Date Named: 28 June 2022 – Subdivision: 25 Milns Road. The road names are themed for local history, with a focus on pioneering women,

A small amount of information from the library website and I take no responsibility for their grammar.

I spend several hours looking at ancestry websites, Papers Past and cemetery websites and I couldn’t find Mary Quinn or anyone with that surname living in Halswell. I even looked at my books about pioneer women with no joy. The council website was also no use for any information.

I was tidying up my photos on my phone camera and came across a photo from December 2024. The street at that stage hadn’t been developed and was just a fenced off paddock. Google maps show it as Collier Drive but the street sign says Mary Quinn Avenue. Today I decided to visit the street again and it is still an undeveloped street but it looks like they have started forming kerbs. No houses here yet and I will come back in another couple of years.

I am so behind with my street project but I have been slightly sidetracked with family tree research on the mysterious grandmother.

Hardwicke Street in Sumner -Land in Hardwicke Street in the “Township of Wakefield, Sumner Bay” is advertised for sale in the Star in 1880.

A tiny amount of the information from the library website. I couldn’t find anyone with the surname Hardwicke living in Sumner. It was fairly common for many people owning land in Sumner to live elsewhere. There was a family with that surname living in Lyttelton and it is possible that it is named after that family.

Not a huge amount of information on Papers Past. There were sections for sale in 1878 and 1880 with another lot of sections available in 1912. In 1884 the street was to be clayed and when they were doing the work a skeleton was found in a sandhill. In 1901 drainage work and septic tank were mentioned. In 1915 the Sumner Presbyterian Church was erected and in 1927 the Sunday School Hall was built. In 1916 a survivor of the Marquette wrote to his sister who lived on the street.

There was a very sad story in 1926 where a woman killed her baby son. Most headlines said demented mother. The baby was only a few weeks old and it sounds like the mother was struggling after the birth. She tried killing herself by running into the sea. She was acquitted of murder and detained at Sunnyside. Sounds like parents stayed married and they are buried together.

In 1933 the Sumner branch of the WEA was mentioned. After this date there wasn’t many entries on Papers Past. In 1983 there were pensioner cottages to be built on the corner of Hardwicke Street and Wiggins Street and they have a Wiggins Street address. In 1982 the church was called Union Church Hall and it is now the Anglican Church and the address is now Nayland Street. The Anglican Church moved here after the earthquakes. I couldn’t find out when the Presbyterian church moved to Redcliffs.

There were lots of ads for holiday lets for houses on this street. Sumner was a popular holiday destination and frequently featured in the social news.

I walked this street in September last year and was another one where my photos were still on my phone and I hadn’t transferred to my laptop. It is a lovely street and at least half the houses are dated between 1905 and 1920. The school is partly on this street but it has a Colenso Street address.

When I was researching Head Street in Sumner I came across several articles about a house at 37 Head Street that was a rest home for nurses. It went under a few names. There was one entry where it was called Adeline Turner Cottage. When it was opened in March 1920 it was called Adeline Rest Cottage. It was described as a rest home for hospital and district nurses. It was run by the Christchurch Hospital Lady Visitors Association. Adeline Turner was an active member of this association. Adeline was a hospital visitor for 36 years and her name Adeline meant noble. There was an obituary for Adeline Turner in 1938. When I was looking for information about Adeline I realised that I had already researched her family. Her sister Kassie was a nurse who had died in 1922 aged 58. There was an article where Adeline said that so many nurses were overworked and exhausted especially during the influenza outbreak that she wanted to have somewhere for them to be able stay and have a break. Adeline came from a well known family and her father was Charles Wesley Turner. The various family trees on the ancestry website are confusing and not helped by the family names being repeated throughout the generations. I have at least one friend on my facebook who is related to this family.

Most of the entries on Papers Past relate to fundraising for the cottage and thank you letters from nurses. In 1969 the cottage was put up for sale as the association said that there was no longer any interest in nurses wanting to use it. After this article there was a letter to the editor from a nurse. The letter said that none of the nurses at the hospital were aware of this cottage and if they had been aware of it they would have used it.

It was still sold and the money from the sale of the cottage went into a fund called Adeline Turner Fund. I couldn’t find a photo of the cottage and street view from google maps was of no help. The house was demolished and I am not sure if it was demolished before or after the earthquakes. I did find an image of the cottage from a real estate ad in the 1990s and it was rather bigger that a cottage.