Kawhia's History in its Street Names

[Kawhia]

The central area of Kawhia comprises the original 40 to 50 acres town block that the Government bought in 1880 - not from the original Maori owners, but from a European who claimed ownership in payment of money owed by another European.

You can read the history of Kawhia in its street names.

The main street is Jervois Street, named for Sir William Jervois, appointed Governor of NZ in 1882, when he visited Kawhia. He was very popular among the colonists. Jervois was born on the Isle of Wight and died in a horse carriage accident in 1897.

From Jervois Street runs Tainui Street, named for the Tainui waka, the ocean-going canoe that brought the ancestors of the Tainui people to Kawhia in the 14th century. Tainui means "big tide".

Travelling up Tainui Street you pass Charleton Street, named for John Charleton, one of the early European settlers who claimed ownership of this Kawhia township block.

Next comes Fairchild Street, named after John Fairchild who was famous for two things. He was master of the "Hinemoa" which was used to set up the Kawhia Harbour beacons in 1883. And he claimed the Kawhia town block from John Charleton Junior, in settlement of a debt. The Government eventually bought the block, in 1880, from either Fairchild or the Charleton estate.

Next is Cowell Street, named after yet another "John" - John Cowell, a flax and firearms trader who originally claimed the Kawhia town block after paying two Kawhia chiefs for it. He paid them in powder, muskets, blankets, clothing, tobacco, pipes and tools. Cowell sold the block to Charleton, to settle a debt, for around $100 in today's money.

On the northern side of the town block is Pouewe Street. This was the original name of the Maori settlement in this area, Pouewe township, and the Pouewe Stream. The name refers to a significant landmark. It is often wrongly spelled "powewe" which means a dog yelping at night.