Northern suburb of Christchurch between Merivale and Bishopdale. From 1850 the sawmilling village of Papanui developed beside a rare patch of native forest, which was quickly cut out for timber and firewood. Papanui then became a residential and commercial village. Tramlines arrived in 1880 and there was a Papanui railway station on the main north line. Since the 1950s suburbs have sprung up beyond Papanui and Northcote, which were once on the city limits.
Meaning of place name
Papa: flat; nui: large. Another meaning is A hide in a tree for bird spearing, but there are many other possibilities.
