Kawerau District Council has come up with a great concept to help familiarise residents and visitors learn about new street names and the meanings behind them.

The council created QR code signs attached to two new street signs, Tiwhatiwha Crescent in Central Cove subdivision and Piripiri Crescent in Porritt Glade Lifestyle Village.

Using a smart phone the code can take readers to the council webside page which gives a translation of the names into English, along with a short history of the areas and the meaning behind the names.

Mayor Faylene Tunui and councillors attended an unveiling with residents of Tiwhatiwha and Piripiri crescents, with a blessing led by Tūwharetoa kaumātua and council iwi liaison and cultural adviser Te Haukakawa (Boycie) Te Rire.

The two streets were created by the council as part of new residential developments. The new street names were gifted by tangata whenua via Mr Te Rire.

Some initial queries about the literal meaning of Tiwhatiwha and Piripiri led the council’s iwi liaison committee to raise the idea of the QR Codes.

Tiwhatiwha, meaning "Gleaming light that guides the way", was a historical name for the area because glowworms lit the rocks guiding travellers across the river there.

Piripiri Crescent’s sign was unveiled by residents Russell Chase and Ben Rickard and followed by Mayor Faylene Tunui’s reading of the meaning.

Piripiri means to keep close together, refers to both a historical large landslide that forced rocks and boulders to come loose and flow together at the site and also the gathering of people.

Communication and engagement manager Tania Humberstone said the QR codes were easily generated and linked to a website, which meant the whakapapa or history would always be secure.

“It also aims to capture all generations - in that most people have a smart phone or know someone with one. We tested that at the unveiling of the signs and it was lovely to see the reaction of those respective residents.

Kawerau design and sign company Nexus completed the design of the signs, adapting another sign design.

“There has been discussion about using this concept for informative signs elsewhere in the district,” Ms Humberstone said.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.