Vincent Community Board (VCB) voted in its meeting yesterday (Monday June 12) to approve road names for the Sunderland Road subdivision in Clyde and for the Clyde Retirement Village subdivision.  

The developer for the Sunderland subdivision submitted four names taken from an approved list of Māori names endorsed by Aukaha, a manawhenua-owned consultancy firm.

The names chosen were all New Zealand native birds with specific references to the Central Otago region.

Pateke Drive was named for the brown teal, of which the single record in Central Otago came from nearby Earnscleugh Cave; Koreke Lane was named for the now extinct New Zealand quail which was only commonly found in the South Island; Kiwi Close was named for the distinctive flightless bird because Kiwi Park in nearby Queenstown runs a breed-for-release programme that includes kiwi; and Pukeko Way was chosen because of the population of pukeko or swamp hens in nearby Ida Valley.

The board unanimously approved the names, with board member Jayden Cromb saying it was good to see use of Te Reo Māori in the selection.

For the names of eight roads in the Clyde Retirement village, the developers submitted names that commemorated local families who have all been a large part of community life in Clyde and contributed through work and clubs. 

The families supplied written information to support each name. 

Rabbitt Avenue was named for the Rabbitt family, of whom the current residents are fifth and sixth generations after their ancestors arrived from Ireland between 1858 and 1862. 

Lines Drive was named for the Lines family who were owners of Dunstan Motors for 50 years. 

Tweeddale Drive is named for the Tweeddale family who were owners of Clyde Butcher Shop. David Tweeddale was deputy chief of the Clyde Fire Brigade and still lives in Clyde with his wife Carole.

Van Boxtel Crescent was named for the van Boxtel family who were owners of a poultry farm on what is now Hazlett St. Frans and Cis van Boxtel arrived in Clyde in November 1952 after a six-week voyage by boat from the Netherlands.

Bogue Lane was named for the Bogue family who purchased what was Hollows Orchard on Hazlett St before the land was sold off. In Mike Bogue’s submission, he said his father Garry eventually landed a permanent job with the New Zealand railways which entitled them to a railway house, which was the family home for the next 40 years.

Parks Lane was named for the Parks family who farmed a small holding on Hazlett St prior to residential subdivision. Maurice Parks worked for Vincent Country Council as a mechanical operator for 30 years and was an ardent supporter of various sporting groups in Clyde. 

Gregory Lane was named for the Gregory family who owned the Clyde Dairy. Son Wayne is still in the area working as a painter/decorator. 

Grenfell Lane was named for John Grenfell, who was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for services to the Fire Service and is currently patron of the Otago/Southland Provincial Fire Bridge Association. Karen and John are both very active community members.  

Board member Dr Roger Browne said the names “seem to be appropriate given that it is a retirement village and residents will have that association with the family name”.

The names were approved unanimously.

In an aside, board chairwoman Tamah Alley commented that the list of approved War Memorial names lacked any women.

“Maybe it is something we can have looked at and have the names of some substantial women added,” she said.