Marylands Reserve in Middelton, Christchurch Photo: Supplied/ Christchurch City Council
Warning: This story contains details some readers might find distressing.
A street and a park associated with abuse of children and young people are likely to have a name change.
Marylands Place and Marylands Reserve are both on one of two former sites of the notorious Marylands School, in the Christchurch suburb of Middleton.
One in five of the boys who attended the residential school, run by the St John of God brothers, reported being abused there, found an interim report released in 2023 for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. It described the institution as 'hell on earth'.
Next week, a Christchurch City Council community board is to consider a name for the street and park.
Board chairperson Callum Ward said the name change was recommended by the Royal Commission, and it also follows calls from survivors.
"There's two main options on the table [as the new name for the street], one is Validation, the other is Monarch. Both of those name suggestions were provided by the survivors themselves," Ward said.
"Survivors spoke of not being believed, or even listened to, for a long time, and they put forward the name Validation. It's an acknowledgement of their experiences and symbolic of them taking back power over what happened."
The name Monarch, for the monarch butterfly, is also symbolic to the survivors.
"We've worked closely with survivors ... to find a name that recognises their experiences, acknowledges the traumatic association of the name, and contributes to puretumu torowhānui, or historic redress," Ward said.
The changes have been put out for public consultation. If approved, the name change will be made from 4 June.
The city council said it would provide support to businesses on Marylands Place if they are affected by the change.
Where to get help:
Sexual Violence
Victim Support 0800 842 846
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) 022 344 0496
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00
HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): 04 801 6655 - push 0 at the menu
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.