Tauranga Street names moments in history

Before Pae Korokī and Papers Past, the New Zealand Room librarians would note topics of interest in an alphabetised card catalogue, this is their selection of news article clippings and notes about street name changes in Tauranga.

Arranged in two sections of notes: alphabetical (by street name) and chronological.

See also 'Western Bay of Plenty Street Names' for more information on street names. and 'Tauranga 1882-1982' p. 56  for more street name changes.

Alphabetical notes:

ALEXANDER Place - Alexander Grant McCallum Kirkpatrick Simpson purchased [and subdivided] one half of James Dickson's Pāpāmoa holding in 1958. Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

BADEN Street. Ōtūmoetai Subdivision by Council, 1979.

BELL Road - "Bell was a very well established businessman who lived in Auckland. He owned a large block of land at the end of Bell Road known as the Bell Estate. The property extended to the State Highway". Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

BRIARLY Street - "Named probably after a dense growth of briars in the locality". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

BROWN Road - "Named after Archdeacon Brown, an Anglican missionary of the early days of New Zealand, who owned the Elms Estate". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

BRUCE Road - "This was part of Peter Dickson's farm [grand-nephew of James Dickson], and was named after his elder brother Bruce [Killed In Action in the Korean War]. Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

BURROWS Street - "Mr Burrows was a well-known architect in Tauranga who built the house in First Avenue with the turret on top". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

CAMERON Road - "Named after General Cameron, who was in command of the British troops in New Zealand". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

CARMICHAELS Road - Mr Carmichael delivered milk in town in which the road runs in the 1920s.

CARNIE Street - Named after Tauranga County Councillor Frederick Henry Carnie. His wife told me all the streets in that subdivision were named after Councillors. He wasn't responsible for the subdivision. (Other streets - BONGARD, SCOTT, WYLIE, JONES, BUSH). Jinty Rorke, 20 March 1998.

CHRISTOPHER Street - "Named after Chris Clarke, well known here in the early days, and a resident of Topcroft". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

CLARKE Street. To revert to original name of Edgecumbe Road. Bay of Plenty Times, 24 September and 29 October 1913.

CUMBERLAND Crescent becomes Exeter Crescent.

DICKSON Road - "was named after the late James Dickson ... [who] would ride to the Papamoa dances always immaculately dressed in a suit.... [He] owned the property from Domain Road continuing to meet the Bell Estate". Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

DIVE Crescent - "Named after Mr Bradshaw Dive, who for a number of years was Mayor of Tauranga and at one time a member of Parliament for a Taranaki constituency". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

DURHAM Street - "Named after a company stationed in Tauranga, the Durham Light Infantry". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

D'URVILLE Way 1980 named by subdivider.

ELIZABETH Street - "Named after Mrs Elizabeth Tunks, wife of Captain Tunks and mother of Mr Alfred F. Tunks, who served as Mayor of Tauranga". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

EMERALD Place - South African Leuknor Johnson purchased the western end of the Dickson Estate and in 1977 sold a part to Parkdale Developments - named for the gemstone? Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

FRASER Street - "Was called after Colonel Fraser, who was a magistrate on the Thames Goldfields in the early days of the field, and was later connected with Parliament". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

GANDER Flat - Old name for the area bounded by Willow Street, McLean St, Strand and Monmouth Street.

GARNET Drive - South African Leuknor Johnson purchased the western end of the Dickson Estate and in 1977 sold a part to Parkdale Developments - named for the gemstone? Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

GRAHAM Place - Graham family land.

GRANT Place - Alexander Grant McCallum Kirkpatrick Simpson purchased [and subdivided] one half of James Dickson's holding in 1958. Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

GRAVATT Road - named for Percy Gravatt who from 1951 farmed land owned by Harry Harrison. Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

GREY Street - "Named after Sir George Grey, Governor of New Zealand. Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

HAMILTON Street - "Captain Hamilton met his death at Gate Pā. He was in command of H.M.S. Esk at the attack on Gate Pā". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

HARINGTON Street - "Colonel Harington lived here for some time in command of the Forces, and was owner of the "Kelston" Estate". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

HARVEY Street - "Was named after a well-known resident of the district, Mr William Harvey, father of Mr William Harvey, a local businessman". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

JADE Place - South African Leuknor Johnson purchased the western end of the Dickson Estate and in 1977 sold a part to Parkdale Developments - named for the gemstone? Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

JORDAN Street - "Named after Rev. Canon Charles Jordan, who was a prominent resident of Tauranga and also Mayor of the town on several occasions". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

KESTEVEN Avenue - Named in 1956 by Mr and Mrs K.S. Richmond. They believed they were naming it in accordance with the Tauranga County Council's instructions to choose an English county. They believed Kesteven (a part of Lincolnshire) was the smallest county - this is (or was) Rutland. Kesteven was part of MCLEAN subdivision. Jinty Rorke, 16 March 1993.

KIRKPATRICK Place - Alexander Grant McCallum Kirkpatrick Simpson purchased [and subdivided] one half of James Dickson's holding in 1958. Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

LADY JOCELYN Street  became ESMERALDA Street in 1976.

LOWES Road - T.W. Lowe owned a farm at Apata.

McCALLUM Place - Alexander Grant McCallum Kirkpatrick Simpson purchased [and subdivided] one half of James Dickson's holding in 1958. Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

MARJORIE Lane - Marjorie and George Whiteside farmed in Pāpāmoa from the mid-1940s, right at the east end of Karewa Parade. Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

MIRRIELEES Road. Area's name. Bay News, 5 May 1999.

MORRIS Street - "Captain Morris was Parliamentary representative for this district in the early seventies". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

NORRIS Street - "Captain Norris was prominently associated with public affairs". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

OPAL Drive - South African Leuknor Johnson purchased the western end of the Dickson Estate and in 1977 sold a part to Parkdale Developments - named for the gemstone? Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

PARADISE Street - Chosen by Kingslea Marinas Ltd.

PARTON Road - "was named after a very colourful bachelor, John Parton, who farmed where Petal Pushers [were - 8 Parton Road]". Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

PERCY Road - named for Percy Gravatt who from 1951 farmed land owned by Harry Harrison. Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

POKAPŪ Road. Ōtūmoetai roads named. Bay of Plenty Times, 19 December 1947, p. 3.

ROBERTS Street - "Major Roberts (afterwards Lieut.-Colonel) was magistrate in Tauranga for a number of years and also saw active service". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

RUBY Place - South African Leuknor Johnson purchased the western end of the Dickson Estate and in 1977 sold a part to Parkdale Developments - named for the gemstone? Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

SANDHURST Drive. War of words over road name [James family unhappy over name for planned link road]. Bay of Plenty Times, Saturday 15 March 2014, Page 8.

SELWYN Street - "Named after Bishop Selwyn". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

SHEATH Street - "Named after Mr Sheath, who was postmaster here in 1874. He owned "Hillsdene". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

SIMPSON Road and Reserve - Alexander Grant McCallum Kirkpatrick Simpson purchased [and subdivided] one half of James Dickson's holding in 1958. Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

SPRING Street - "This was where the Town Pump was erected and the water supply was drawn from a spring where the Regent Picture Theatre now stands. The residents used to cart the water from this spring". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

STACK Street:

• Council propose opening up street. Bay of Plenty Times, 10 September 1913.
• To revert to original name of HARVEY Street West. Bay of Plenty Times, 24 September and 29 October 1913

TAYLOR Road. [Les Taylor ended up owning the Bell Estate]. In 1955 Taylor subdivided the sand dunes, thus Taylor Road and Taylor Reserve. Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

TOPAZ Drive - South African Leuknor Johnson purchased the western end of the Dickson Estate and in 1977 sold a part to Parkdale Developments - named for the gemstone? Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

TURRET Road - There used to be a high turret to carry the telegraph wires over the Hairini Estuary to another turret on the other side of the estuary". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

The STRAND – see the Journal of Tauranga Historical Society, no. 28, 1966, Page 14.  "It is said that Mr Jack Keefe named The Strand. He was a shoemaker on the main street and was a champion rifle shot". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

WATER Street - "Facing the waters of the Waikareao Estuary". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

WINIATA - Dr Maharaia Winiata, Ngāti Ranginui, Tauranga Boys' College student, Methodist minister, teacher, anthropologist, broadcaster.

WRIGLEY Street - "Mr Thomas Wrigley was a well-known merchant here in the early days, and had cutters running between Tauranga and Auckland. He was also Mayor of Tauranga". Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, Page 3.

YOUNGSON's Road. Old name for NGATAI Road. See this 1953 Wise's street map of Tauranga.

Chronological notes:

1878

Given by district surveyor A. C Turner. ST JOHN Street, EDGECUMBE Street, JORDAN Street, MORRIS Street. Local and General. Bay of Plenty Times, 12 September 1878. p.3.

1917

Series of articles by residents of MARSH and WEST Streets, in relation to repeated appeals for draining of the streets. Bay of Plenty Times 18 July 1917, p.4, Bay of Plenty Times 16 May 1917, p.4, Bay of Plenty Times, 11 May 1914, p.3.

1935

Street Names. H.J Vickery supplies the origins behind some Tauranga Street names. Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 1935, p.3.

1947

Origin of Street names - Ōtūmoetai Roads named. Bay of Plenty Times, 19 December 1947, p. 3.

1964

Road formally renamed. LEVERS Crescent, KINGS Avenue, MAY Street. May Street. Bay of Plenty Times, 28 April 1964.

1975

Road formally renamed, Bay of Plenty Times, 5 March 1975:

• Tauranga:
  • CARLYLE Road becomes CHEYNE Road
  • MORRISON Lane becomes GASSON Lane
• Te Puke:
  • REWITI Lane becomes TAREHA Lane
• Ōmokoroa:
  • ŌMOKOROA Station Road becomes STATION Road
• Katikati
  • LECKY Lane becomes PINE RIDGE LANE. 

1990

'Sandfly hovers on list of street names'  Bay of Plenty Times, 22 August 1990.

1995

'City Street names under scrutiny'. Working party set up to establish policy re street names. Bay of Plenty Times, 4 September 1995.

'Relative rejection'. Developers request to name a street after his granddaughter refused by Council. Bay of Plenty Times, 4 June 1995.

2003

Pāpāmoa's east end once an outpost [many street names in the developing residential area taken from local farming families] / Marjorie Whiteside. Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

Warships inspire names of streets [in Welcome Bay] / Jinty Rorke. Bay of Plenty Times, Wednesday 6 August 2003, Page 22.

• AJAX Place for HMS Ajax at Battle of the River Plate.
• ACHILLES Crescent for HMNZS Achilles at Battle of the River Plate.
• DUNTON Drive George Dunton bought land in the area in 1919 - new name for Boojum Street after 1977 residents' petition.
• HOLMBURN Street for vessel of the Holm line.
• PAMIR Place for sailing ship Pamir, briefly sailed under the NZ flag during World War 2 (see The Pamir under the New Zealand ensign and the Pamir's globe.)

 

2009

Unravelling history of Brookfield area for our readers. Brookfield Road changes and realignments. Bay News, 2 September 2009, p 5:

• ŌTŪMOETAI Road used to run from the Summit on WAIHĪ Road and went along BROOKFIELD Terrace and turned left before Ōtūmoetai Primary School.
• POKOPU Road came down from the Waihī Road Cambridge Road junction.
• BROOKERS Hills went from the current Brookfield roundabout up and joined the former Ōtūmoetai Road at the top of the hill.

 

2014

'War of words over road name [James family unhappy over name Sandhurst Drive for planned link road]'. Bay of Plenty Times, Saturday 15 March 2014, Page 8.

'Name change plea [by James family over Sandhurst Drive] rejected [by Council]'. Sunlive. Posted 11:18am 23 April, 2014. https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/70193-name-change-plea-rejected.html.