History

JOYNT ANDREWS RETURNS TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

 When Joynt Andrews moved into its offices in a Victorian villa at 368 Papanui Road, it was not only the start of a new chapter of the firm, but the continuation of earlier chapters going back to the early days of Joynt Andrews, and of Papanui. To accommodate our expanding firm we have moved to our larger premises at Level 1 485 Papanui Road - retaining our links to Papanui.

368 Papanui Road is located between Paparoa Street and Tomes Road.  From Province of Canterbury, New Zealand - List of Sections purchased to April 30, 1863 we know the names of the original owners of that land.  The area between what is now Paparoa Street and Tomes Road comprised Rural Sections 276 and 302, each being 50 acres.  Records indicate that RS 302 was originally owned by Charles Greenstreet, while RS 276 was owned by Thomas Bennett Tomes, whose family is remembered in Tomes Road.  RS302 was subsequently acquired by William Thomson, an accountant runholder and auditor to the Canterbury Provincial Government.  Mr Thomson also leased the neighbouring section RS 276 from Mr Tomes.  A Scotsman, Mr Thomson named the now 100-acre property "Scotstown."  Again, this is remembered in the name of Scotson Avenue.  On his death in 1866, Mr Thomson's 50-acre section (RS 302) was sold.  The purchaser was Thomas Ingram Joynt, founder of Joynt Andrews.  Mr Joynt renamed the property "Finglas," after a suburb in Dublin.

Mr Joynt was, at the time of his death, the senior King's Counsel in New Zealand.  Born in Ireland, he emigrated to Canterbury in 1856.  He began his legal training in Dublin and was admitted to the bar in 1863 in Christchurch and at the same time set up his own legal firm, today known as Joynt Andrews.  He became known as a defence lawyer and had many high profile cases, but he was equally successful in civil cases.  Today, the firm he founded is the third-oldest law firm in Canterbury and the thirteenth-oldest in New Zealand.

Our new location continues our links to the past - but with a more modern outlook - Level 1 485 Papanui Road, Christchurch 8053.