Source: Auckland Council
Ten new public roads and a private road in the Paerata Rise subdivision will all carry Māori names connected with the Methodist Church and Bible.
Te Rātā Boulevard, Arohaina Avenue, Manatika Road, Kenehi Roard, Metorita Crescent, Arohanui Road, Haukake Roade, Karaipiture Road, Manakitia Road, Wjakatuora Road and Arohanoa Lane have all been approved by Franklin Local Board.
Te Rātā recognises that the boulevard will be planted with the popular native tree, Arohaina is compassion, Manatika justice, and Kenehi Genesis, the first book of the Bible.
Metorita means Methodist, Arohanui abundant love, Kaukake is to harvest, Karapiture is scripture, Manaakitia is to show respect, Whakatuora to enable wellness and Arohanoa is Grace.
All of the names were suggested by Te Taha Māori – the Māori side of the Methodist Church, with mana whenua from Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua and Te Ākitai Waiohuai also consulted.
Paerata Rise is a large-scale housing development set across 286 hectares surrounding Wesley College and will ultimately provide for around 5000 new homes over a 10-year period.
More than 200 new roads within the development will require naming, and the board has already approved many of those, with names drawn from the history of the land, Wesley College and the Methodist Church.
Board chair Andy Baker says the names chosen reflect the history of the area and its association with the well-known Methodist college.
“The board has respecting our cultural heritage and ensuring Māori identity is expressed in our communities as one of its main objectives, so it’s great to see mana whenua and the developers working so closely together.
“The names chosen fit the history of the area and it’s wonderful to see that acknowledged in te reo.”
