Where does the town of twizel get its name from?

The town of Twizel in New Zealand derives its name from the Twizel River in Scotland. The river's name itself is believed to come from the Old English Word "twisle," meaning "to twist or bend," reflecting the river's winding course. The area was settled in the 1960s as part of the Waitaki hydroelectric project, and the name was chosen to evoke a connection to the Scottish heritage of many early settlers.