Down your street
Behind every street name is a story. Every month we look at some well-known Taranaki streets and the origin of their names. If you want to know more about a particular street, please email us.
Cutfied Street, Inglewood
Mr George Cutfield, naval architect of HM Dockyard Devonport, was given charge of the pioneer expedition of the Plymouth Company, which left Plymouth on 12 November 1840 aboard the William Bryan. Mr Cutfield was the company's first resident agent in New Plymouth. He was later elected Superintendent of Taranaki.
Mangati Road, Bell Block
Many years ago, cabbage trees surrounded a pa at the place now known as Bell Block. Because of these cabbage trees, Maori called the near-by stream Mangati, which means "small stream where the cabbage trees grow". It is thought when the road was built locals named it after the stream.
Whakawhiti Street, New Plymouth
This name comes from the Whakawhitiwhiti Pa, which overlooks the street. This pa is in one of the best-preserved in New Plymouth and its remains show that it must have been a strong refuge for the inhabitants of a nearby smaller pa in times of attack. Little is known about the pa, although it was known to be occupied about 1740. At one time the Post Office had a telephone office at the corner of Omata Road, and named the office "Whakawhiti".
Did you know...?
There was once a virus so deadly that in less than two years it would kill more than 40 million people in the world.
That's equivalent to wiping out the entire population of Spain right now, or all the people of Australia twice over.
This is not science fiction, or scaremongering about germ warfare. This is a true story set in 1918.
Read more...
Taranaki Teaser
This Taranaki Landmark Theatre was built in 1910-11 and has had a number of name changes during its history, including the "Princess Theatre" and the "Regent Theatre".
It has shown silent movies, plays and from its public balconies, people heard election results and learnt of war.
It has just undergone a major restoration.
Can you guess where this historic entertainment theatre is?
The answer will be revealed in the September edition of Taranaki Trivia!
Last month's answer: Merv Hicks.
Read more...
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