Pleiades Street (Waitara)

This Waitara Street not only has a stellar name, but it could also be named after a ketch that was berthed in the Waitara River from the 1940s until the early 70s.

The word itself has its roots in Greek mythology, where the Pleiades constellation represents the seven daughters of the Titan, Atlas, and his wife, Pleione. Each of the sisters is also a celestial being and plays a significant role in the legends of Greece.

Close to home, the star cluster has particular significance to Māori. Their term for Pleiades is Matariki. When Matariki is visible, usually around May or June in the Southern Hemisphere, it indicates the beginning of the Māori New Year.

In the Pākehā world, it is commonly referred to as the "saucepan" and is easily visible on a clear winter's night.

The naming of the street probably occurred in the mid-seventies; certainly the architecture of the housing on the street would support this. It is probable that Pleiades St also refers to a ketch of the same name built by two adventurous school boys, Noel Prior and Dick Mallet, during the 1940s. Whether for a fantastical voyage across the seven seas, or to hone their design skills or some other more practical reason, the lads put their imaginations and practical skills to good use and built the Pleiades.

In the end it became a well-loved and talked about feature on the river for many of years.

Unfortunately, in 1971 it was damaged beyond repair by the Waitara floods. The fact that it stood the test of time for so long is a testament to the boys' workmanship and skill. Soon after it was destroyed a little street named "Pleiades" popped up in a Waitara subdivision. If nothing else it is a reminder of this endearing project in a time when practical skills and imagination were the main devices for youth to entertain themselves.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.