colonial settlement of the area dates from 1841, with land used mainly for farming and grazing. robert jenkins acquired a hundred acres of hill pasture. in order to reach it he made a road up mount victoria, fenced much of his land and used it for breeding horses. population was minimal until the late 19th century. in the early days the area was part of kilbirnie in the evans bay district - so the school opened in moxham ave in 1884 was called kilbirnie school. in 1901 the hataitai land company was formed to sell sections on the hillsides north from waitoa road, and the area became known as hataitai. in 1902 the new suburb was advertised by the cutting of gigantic letters spelling 'hataitai' in the turf of the town side of mount victoria. many of the streets in hataitai are named after native trees: hinau street, konini road, matai road, rata road, rewa road etc.