Resident sees red over bid to change street name

LUCY CRAYMER
Wairoa's Corkill Avenue has such a bad reputation that landlords are asking the Wairoa District Council to change its name. However, long-time resident Rebecca Meta won't have a bar of it.
Mrs Meta, who has lived on the street for 28 years, is particularly unhappy with one submitter's proposal to rename the street "Epiphany Avenue".
The street takes its name from Joseph Corkill, the town's mayor from 1910-1917 and from 1919-1929.
Two submissions have been received on the council's 2005/06 draft annual plan asking that the street's name be changed. Wairoa Home Rentals directors and property managers Troy and Christine Robinson requested an alteration because they believed the street had been labelled as having gang issues.
"Corkill Avenue's history is very mixed," the Robinson's submission said.
Over the years it had been the centre of much debate about the "gang" issues it had been labelled with.
"Corkill Avenue is no different to the rest of the town now. The gang influence has moved on, and young families and investors are seeking to change the feel of the street and put its bad history behind them," the Robinsons said.
They suggest a park be built on the street's corner and given the Corkill name.
The directors of Sydney development company Davanna Property Trust, David Fong and Anna Rizzi, have recently purchased property in the street.
They wanted to clean up the "tarnished" image of Mayor Corkill and "rid the presence of gang affiliation on the street".
"We propose a name change to symbolise a new beginning, reflecting the current change taking place in the street. We propose the name Epiphany Ave," the trust said.
But Mrs Meta said the only reason anyone would change the name of the street was to make a name for themselves.
"It makes me mad. They should go and change their own street name," she said.
Mrs Meta disagreed that the street had gang problems.
"I have been living in this street for 28 years and I raised six children in this house. Do you think I would still be living in this house if I didn't think it was safe?" she said.
Another longtime resident, who did not wish to be named, said he had no "grizzles" about the name.
"There are no more gang problems here than in any other street."
Across the street, Anne Mattock said she could see why they wanted a new street name but she wanted it to remain as Corkill Avenue.
"If they change the name no one will know where it is."