Blyde Road

Blyde Road provides access to Blyde Wharf at Port Taranaki. They were both named after Sir Henry Blyde.

Born in England, Blyde came to New Zealand in 1913. As a young man he worked on a dairy farm and eventually owned his own farm in the Lepperton area.

He became very involved in Taranaki business, particularly in the dairy industry. Eventually he was awarded life membership of Federated Farmers. He was also a long-serving member of the hospital board. His involvement in these and other community groups was recognized when he was awarded a CBE.

An involvement with Port Taranaki became a significant commercial focus for him. In 1953 he was elected to the board that managed the port and immediately appointed chairman. In the following twenty years he oversaw a large expansion of the port’s facilities, including machinery purchases, land reclamation, extending the breakwater and building the lee breakwater.

In 1969 Blyde was knighted. At the same time, plans were announced for a new wharf at the port, which would be named after him. The first vessel to berth at the wharf did so in June, 1972.

Sir Henry Blyde chaired the Taranaki Harbours Board from 1953 until his retirement in 1974. He died in August, 1984.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.