Street name under discussion
The family of a New Plymouth developer who died just after last year’s lockdown have asked for his final project to be given his name.
Wilson (Willie) Still, of Westwill Properties, died aged 93 on May 23 after a week in hospital. He had been taken ill while on the company’s London Tce, Welbourn, site, shovel in hand.
Yesterday, grandson Kyle Still told New Plymouth District Council’s Te Huinga Taumatua Committee the family could not visit him in hospital due to Covid, and only 50 people were able to attend the funeral. ‘‘He didn’t get the send-off he so richly deserved, and sadly his funeral was held on what would have been his 94th birthday.’’
Now, the London Tce subdivision is due for naming and Ngati Te Whiti, which has mana whenua (rights) over the land, suggested ‘Mahea To¯tara Way’, honouring Still as a to¯tara.
Kyle Still said while iwi had acknowledged his grandfather, particularly in referring to him as a to¯tara, the family still wished to call the street Wilson Way.
It was agreed for the family to have more discussion with Ngati Te Whiti before a decision was made. Afterwards, Kyle Still said he was happy with the outcome.
Meanwhile, names were also given to the Marfell KiwiBuild development.
The two reserves will be called Hikitia Park and Hapaingia Park, meaning to lift up, raise up, take up or elevate.
The road names include Pukeori St, named after a pa¯, as a way of returning the pa¯ name to the whenua (land). Manawa Ora Lane, Te Ara T¯ına¯ and Te Ara Toka were also approved.