Roads

Discover the Stories Behind Cambridge’s Street Names

Have you ever wondered where your street got its name? This guide reveals the rich history behind the street names of Cambridge and the surrounding districts. From early Māori market gardens to modern-day tributes, every street has a story to tell.

How to Use This Guide

• Streets are listed alphabetically for easy browsing.
• Click on a letter to see all street names beginning with that letter.
• Find out who or what each street is named after from royalty and war heroes to local landscapes and entrepreneurs.

The Stories Behind the Names

Cambridge’s street names reflect centuries of change, culture, and connection. Here’s what you’ll discover:

• Māori Origins Many names in te reo Māori carry spiritual and ancestral meaning guided by mana whenua Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā. They are rooted in the whenua (land), maunga (mountains), and awa (river).
• Cultural Tributes Streets honour royalty (e.g., Victoria Street), national leaders (Vogel Street), property developers, and local families. You’ll also find the names of writers and poets.
• Historical Events Some names commemorate pivotal moments, such as the Gallipoli campaign (Anzac Street) and other milestones in New Zealand’s history.
• Modern Connections As Cambridge expands, new subdivisions introduce names that blend tradition with innovation. They are selected using Waipā District Council’s naming policy introduced in 2021, designed to reflect Waipā’s evolving story.

  Ready to explore? 👉 Choose a letter to begin uncovering the stories that behind Cambridge's street names.

Acknowledgements

This guide would not have been possible without the work of Ruth Wilkinson and Eris Parker. Their research into Cambridge’s history and street names helped lay the foundations for this project. Ruth’s book The Streets of Cambridge and Eris’s many publications through the Cambridge Museum gave us the stories, details, and background that help make sense of how our streets got their names. Thanks to their passion for history, we are able to share these stories today.

While all due care has been taken to verify information, Cambridge Museum accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or misrepresentation.  

Last updated July 2025