Amberview Developments in Pirongia.
Liz Stolwyk
Council staff appear to have struck the right balance when it comes to naming Waipā streets, says deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk.
“A road name can be quite sensitive for our residents,” she told this week’s Service Delivery committee meeting which considered six new names across the district.
The council rejected iwi recommendations for the Cambridge Health Hub development – opting instead for names from the developers with strong links to the late Sir Patrick Hogan.
But on the other side of the river at Te Awa Rise Development on Cambridge Road – looking towards the Waikato River – a suggestion for Maunsell Road was not approved despite the former owner’s recommendation.
Te Awa Rise street names.
Developments in Pirongia and Cambridge will all take names suggested by local iwi.
The Amberviews development in Pirongia was consented in December 2021 and is being built in three stages with three public roads and 35 lots.
Tom Roa
Mana whenua representative and The News columnist Tom Roa suggested Kahu Street. Kahu is the recognised as the fuller name of Mt Pirongia – ‘Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu’.
At Te Awa Rise, mana whenua’s Beth Tauroa suggested Awarua Crescent – which refers to the ditch that now protects an adjacent reserve, Paa Road, which refers to the pā site, Papatahi Lane, a floor or area where people were working, and Awarua Reserve.
The developer retains the naming rights as to which proposed names are presented to council but did not submit one recommended by Geoff Maunsell, the previous landowner.
Sir Patrick Hogan with wife Justine Lady Hogan. Photo: Trish Dunell
Graduate Development engineer Brendan Koevoet said there was nothing specific to the site which warranted the name Maunsell for one of the roads.
“The developer presented the name to iwi representatives who did not prefer this name,” he said, so submitted the iwi recommendations which meet the council’s road naming policy.
Clare St Pierre
Hogan’s widow Justine partly owns Cambridge Health Hub. Developers suggested the names Sir Tristram Boulevard – after the thoroughbred racehorse who stood at Cambridge Stud for several years and Tavistock Place. Tavistock is another successful stallion from the world famous stud owned and operated by Hogan for decades.
Iwi preferred Waahi Ngaro Road, a reference to the loss of ngaa Tapuwae oo ngaa tuupuna (footsteps of our ancestors) and Mahitahi Road.
“Elements of the development to date have been exclusive and disjointed between partners. Mahitahi is a reminder for all parties to work together to achieve positive outcomes for the community,” the naming paper said.
Peak Mews Development on Cambridge Road, near the Velodrome, had three names approved. Poto Davies as the mana whenua representative suggested Kookihi Crescent which means “to begin to grow.” That is an aspirational objective of the Brian Perry Charitable Trust which developed the site.
Liquidambar Lane and Whitespire Way, in reference to the mature trees on site, are the other names.
Service Development chair Clare St Pierre said the report highlighted what could be a sensitive issue across the district and agreed staff had struck that balance.
