Kirirua Avenue in the suburb of Halswell, Christchurch

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: …

Matamoe Drive in the suburb of Halswell, Christchurch

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. …

Paradise Way in the suburb of Halswell, Christchurch

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 …

Tuna Street in the suburb of Halswell, Christchurch

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 …

Silvereye Street in the suburb of Halswell, Christchurch

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, …

Beresford Street in the suburb of New Brighton, Christchurch

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 …

Colenso Street in the suburb of Sumner, Christchurch

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 …

Mary Quinn Avenue in the suburb of Halswell, Christchurch

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 …

Hardwicke Street in the suburb of Sumner, Christchurch

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 …

Adeline Turner Cottage at 37 Head Street in Sumner

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 …